Ethnologies's Artificial Intelligence Policy

Generative artificial intelligence (AI), particularly the large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, causes numerous challenges to scholarly research and publications. Although useful in certain circumstances, it cannot replicate human creative and critical thinking. It often uses or duplicates inaccurately information from other sources, the origin and quality of which are sometimes unknown or wrong (as highlighted by a study conducted by Columbia University*). While the texts generated by AI can appear trustworthy, they are often incorrect, incomplete, or biased and may contain outdated information. To ensure the quality and the original content of manuscripts, the journal has therefore created the following policy on artificial intelligence.

For the manuscripts submission

Manuscripts submitted to the journal Ethnologies must contain original and authentic research conducted by the authors. We therefore ask that authors refrain from using artificial intelligence software to generate the content of their article or to replace the researchers' tasks.

Authors must fill in a declaration regarding the use of AI in their manuscript (to download at the bottom of this page) and attach it when submitting their manuscript. This declaration will then be communicated to the reviewers, after being anonymized by the editorial board. The use of AI tools for grammar, spelling, and translation is accepted, but it must be reviewed by the authors. We invite the authors to contact us if they have any question.

Authors are responsible for ensuring their work is accurate, free of plagiarism, and for properly citing their sources.

For the review process

Reviewers should not use AI technologies to evaluate manuscripts nor to improve language quality, due to confidentiality. Reviewers who suspect inappropriate or undisclosed use of generative AI in a manuscript should report their concerns to the journal's Editor-in-Chief. If AI-assisted technologies are used in an inappropriate or undisclosed manner, manuscripts may be rejected.

Declaration on the Use of Artificial Intelligence (to be downloaded and filled in by the authors):/sites/acef-fsac.ulaval.ca/files//declaration_on_the_use_of_artificial_intelligence.docx

* Cf the study conducted by Columbia University : “AI Search Has A Citation Problem”: https://www.cjr.org/tow_center/we-compared-eight-ai-search-engines-theyre-all-bad-at-citing-news.php