1. Overview
This Contributor AI Usage & Disclosure Policy formalises the rules governing the use of artificial intelligence (applications and websites) by external (contributors/columnists and consultants) parties submitting work to The Viyug for publishing consideration. While external parties may use AI tools in different assistive capacities, transparency and editorial integrity are non‑negotiable.
This policy applies to:
- All external parties submitting articles, essays, explainers, analyses and other forms of submissions
- Any submission evaluated under The Viyug’s editorial guidelines
This policy complements and does not replace The Viyug’s existing Editorial Guidelines and Transparency standards.
2. Guiding Principles
External Parties’ use of AI at The Viyug is governed by the following principles:
- Authorship remains human: Writers are solely responsible for the intellectual content, arguments, and conclusions of their submissions
- Disclosure over concealment: Declared AI use is acceptable; undisclosed AI use is not
- Assistance, not substitution: AI may support writing quality but must not generate original analysis or claims
- Editorial sovereignty: The Viyug retains full editorial discretion irrespective of disclosed AI use
3. Permitted AI Assistance
3.1 Language and Clarity Support
- Grammar and spelling checks
- Sentence clarity and readability improvements
- Minor stylistic suggestions that do not alter meaning
3.2 Structural and Formatting Assistance
- Organising paragraphs or sections
- Improving flow and coherence
- Formatting references or citations (subject to verification)
3.3 Non-Substantive Ideation Support
- Brainstorming titles or section headings
- Identifying areas where clarity may be improved
All such use must remain ancillary to the contributor’s own research and writing.
4. Prohibited AI Use by Contributors
Contributors who wish to submit their work for publishing consideration with The Viyug must not use AI tools to:
- Generate original analysis, arguments, or conclusions
- Introduce facts, data points, quotations, or sources without independent verification
- Produce full drafts or substantial portions of articles intended for submission
- Simulate expertise, lived experience, or regional insight
- Mask AI‑generated content as human‑written original work
AI tools must not be treated as co‑authors, researchers, or subject‑matter experts.
5. Mandatory Disclosure Requirements
5.1 Disclosure Obligation
All contributors must disclose any use of AI tools during the preparation of a submission, regardless of extent. Disclosure must:
All contributors must disclose any use of AI tools during the preparation of a submission, regardless of extent. Disclosure must:
- Be truthful and complete
- Specify the nature of AI assistance used
- Be submitted at the time of submission, not post‑acceptance
A typical disclosure may include:
“AI tools were used for grammar and readability checks. No AI was used for research, analysis, or factual claims.“
Disclosures can be made within the body of the email in which the submission attachment arrives to The Viyug.
6. Editorial Review Rights
6.1 Right to Scrutiny
The Viyug reserves the right to:
- Evaluate submissions for signs of impermissible AI generation
- Seek clarification regarding disclosed AI use
- Request revisions where AI assistance appears excessive or inappropriate
6.2 Verification and Revision
Editor(s) may:
- Require contributors to substantiate claims or sources
- Reject AI‑assisted passages deemed unreliable or misleading
- Ask for sections to be rewritten without AI assistance
Disclosure does not guarantee acceptance.
7. Consequences of Non-Disclosure and/or Misuse
7.1 Non-Disclosure
Failure to disclose AI usage constitutes a breach of editorial trust and may result in:
- Immediate rejection of the submission
- Withdrawal of accepted or published articles
- Temporary or permanent restriction from contributing to The Viyug
7.2 Misrepresentation
Deliberate misrepresentation of AI‑generated content as original human work may trigger:
- Retraction notices
- Immediate rejection of the submission
- Withdrawal of accepted or published articles
- Temporary or permanent restriction from contributing to The Viyug
8. Accountability and Responsibility
Contributors remain fully responsible for:
- Accuracy of facts and sources
- Originality of analysis
- Ethical compliance with The Viyug’s standards
AI usage does not dilute contributor accountability.
9. Policy Review and Updates
This policy may be updated to reflect:
- Changes in AI tooling and accessibility
- Editorial experience with AI‑assisted submissions
- Evolving norms in responsible journalism
Updates will be reflected in this webpage. In-case of any clarifications, kindly email to editor@viyug.org.in