Can AI Be Listed as an Author on a Research Paper?
No. Major editorial bodies, including ICMJE and COPE, state that AI tools cannot be listed as authors because authorship requires accountability, the ability to approve the final version and take responsibility for the work, and to declare conflicts of interest, which a tool cannot do. Read the current policies, as they are evolving.
Why not?
- Accountability: authors must answer for the work's accuracy and integrity.
- Agreement and approval: authors confirm the final version and agree to be accountable.
- Legal and ethical responsibility, including copyright and conflicts of interest.
- Transparency: readers need to know who is responsible.
What to do instead
- Disclose AI use in the Methods, acknowledgements or a dedicated statement, as the journal specifies: name the tool, version where known, and how it was used.
- Take responsibility for all content, including anything produced with AI assistance.
- Do not cite an AI tool as a source of evidence for medical claims; cite primary literature.
- Check the journal's specific rules, which may also address AI-generated images or use in peer review.
Illustrative example
Invented for teaching. A manuscript's acknowledgement states: "The authors used [Tool name] to improve the readability of the Discussion. The authors reviewed and edited the output and take full responsibility for the content." The tool is not in the author list.
Related questions
If a person used AI to write most of a paper, they must still meet authorship criteria themselves through substantial contribution and accountability. Policies about images and data generated by AI vary, so check them.
Common pitfalls
- Listing a tool as co-author.
- Hiding AI use.
Key takeaways
- AI cannot be an author; humans must be accountable.
- Disclose use and follow the journal's policy.
References and further reading
- COPE. Authorship and AI tools (position statement). Link
- International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE). Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals. Link
- ICMJE. Defining the Role of Authors and Contributors. Link
- Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE): guidance and flowcharts. Link
Related reading
This page is general educational information about research methods. It is not medical, legal or regulatory advice; follow your institution's ethics board and your target journal's instructions.