01
The standard
Original research follows ICMJE authorship criteria and records CRediT roles such as conceptualization, methodology, investigation, data curation, software, analysis, writing, supervision, and funding acquisition. The corresponding author coordinates communication but does not absorb everyone else’s responsibility. Contributors who do not qualify as authors are acknowledged with permission; gift, ghost, purchased, and coercive authorship are prohibited.
Sources for this section: [1]
02
How it works in practice
Generative systems and other software cannot be authors because they cannot approve work, disclose conflicts, or accept accountability. Material AI assistance in searching, coding, translation, analysis, imagery, or drafting must be described with tool, version when known, purpose, human verification, and data-safety controls. Authors remain responsible for citations, originality, privacy, methods, code, and every claim produced with assistance.
Sources for this section: [1]
Sources
- Defining the Role of Authors and ContributorsInternational Committee of Medical Journal Editors · 2026