ISSM Introduces New AI Policy for Authors and Peer Reviewers

As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into research and scientific publishing, ISSM has introduced a new Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy for Authors and Peer Reviewers, providing clear guidance for the responsible use of AI across The Journal of Sexual Medicine, Sexual Medicine Reviews, and Sexual Medicine Open Access.

The policy is centered around three core principles: authorship, accountability, and disclosure. AI systems cannot be listed as authors, human authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of their work, and substantive uses of AI must be transparently disclosed.

For authors, AI tools may support aspects of manuscript preparation, including drafting text, refining figures, literature discovery, and improving organization. However, authors must retain intellectual control, independently verify AI-assisted content and references, and never use AI to fabricate or manipulate research data or findings.

The policy also establishes important safeguards for peer review. Reviewers may not upload manuscripts, abstracts, reviews, or other confidential material into public AI tools. Only appropriately secured tools that guarantee data isolation may be used, with permitted AI use disclosed during the review process.

The introduction of the policy comes as the Editors-in-Chief of the three ISSM Journals continue the conversation around AI and its implications for scientific publishing. In the new Journal of Sexual Medicine editorial “The evolving landscape of AI in publishing,” Annamaria Giraldi, MD, PhD; Landon Trost, MD; and Giovanni Corona, MD, PhD discuss both the opportunities and challenges presented by these rapidly developing technologies.

The editorial considers how AI may support research, scientific communication, and peer review while also addressing concerns surrounding inaccurate or fabricated information, bias, confidentiality, intellectual property, and research integrity.

Together, the ISSM AI policy and the new editorial provide practical guidance and broader perspective on how AI can support scientific publishing while maintaining human responsibility, transparency, and academic integrity.

View the ISSM Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy for Authors and Peer Reviewers

Read the editorial: The evolving landscape of AI in publishing

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