The American Physical Society (APS) has announced an updated policy on the use of AI tools in the preparation and peer review of research articles submitted to its journals. The revised guidelines expand the scope of permissible AI use while reinforcing the Society’s commitment to human oversight, accountability, and research integrity.
Under the new policy, authors and reviewers may employ AI tools for a wider range of tasks, including literature synthesis, data analysis, scientific reasoning, figure generation, and translation. APS emphasized that disclosures are required whenever AI is used, and must specify the tool’s name and version, the nature of its assistance, the instructions provided, the methods of verification, and any other details necessary to ensure transparency. The Society noted that these measures are designed to keep human judgment at the center of scholarly publishing and peer review.
To safeguard confidentiality, the policy prohibits the use of unrestricted AI tools to process peer review materials. APS also provided guidance to help authors and reviewers navigate disclosure requirements and align with editorial policies and practices across its journals.
Previously, AI use was limited to polishing, condensing, and lightly editing manuscripts and reviewer reports, provided that such use was fully disclosed. The updated framework reflects APS’s recognition of AI’s rapid evolution and its growing role in scientific communication. The Society stated that it will continue to reassess and refine these guidelines as the technology develops.
APS encouraged authors and reviewers with questions about the policy to contact its help desk for support.
Click here to read the original press release.
More News in this Theme
