No AI (Artificial Intelligence) Policy

Statements of Principles and Ethics

• In doing the work of academic editing, consulting, and dissertation coaching, I value and practice principles of personal/professional integrity, transparency, and open communication.

• In doing this work, I aim to maintain high ethical standards across all aspects of my editing services, including the working relationship between editor and client.

• As a philosophically-oriented academic editor, I value the expression and representation of human excellence over technological expedience. In my view, human excellence develops with individual intention and practice— encompassing all areas of human existence—throughout the course of one’s life. Writing, editing, making art, appreciating and performing music, excelling at a sport, and succeeding in business are just some examples of ways with which human beings can express and demonstrate their efforts towards excellence.

• Most importantly, human excellence involves the practice of ethical habits and principles that contribute to one’s quality of life and to their overall growth as an individual, as a community member, and as a citizen of the world.
  

  Key Points of SJL’s “No AI Policy”

As Editor:

• I do not use any AI tools throughout the process of reading, reviewing, analyzing, and editing client manuscripts. I do not use AI tools for writing Editor Summaries and other reports for my clients. All my work results from the application of my “hands-on” human functions and skills.
  *Rationale:
  - I value the uniquely human capacities of thought, analysis, and expression as evidenced in the client’s writing. I want to read and “hear” your voice in the written content, representing your genuine skills and potential for growth.
  - I highly value work practices that humanize the individual and their efforts over those that dehumanize; essentially, prioritizing human excellence over AI expedience.

• As a comprehensive/substantive editor, I use the MS Word “track changes” function (under editing/review) to make visible any changes to content and to provide related information. Changes can include deleted text, added text, grammar/punctuation corrections, etc. In turn, I include margin comments to clarify edits, to provide helpful links and resources, and to make recommendations—all personally crafted by me—for you, the writer. I use the spellcheck function in MS Word when finalizing my review of your manuscript.
  *Rationale:
  - Along with addressing the more technical aspects of my editing process, my aim is to provide feedback that is transparent, supportive, and potentially instructive.

As Writer/Client:

• Know that I do not work with AI-generated or AI-influenced materials. Your manuscripts/documents should demonstrate your original thinking, analytical processes, interpretations, and understandings as reflected in your written words. (Exceptions would be made for a writer who requires AI assistance based on functionality issues).
  *Rationale:
  - In general, just as a writer should never plagiarize another writer’s words, I regard the writer who uses artificially-generated content as intentionally using an external source to falsely represent their own thinking and writing. I want to work with your words!
  - Academic writing, in particular, should reflect the intellect, spirit, determination, and growth potential of the writer. Writers and editors, alike, continue to develop and refine our skills with practice.

• Read great works, write a lot, and stay human!