In response to the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in academic research and writing, Open Exploration has formally updated its Editorial Policies and Author Instructions on January 21, 2026. These updates establish clear requirements to ensure transparency, integrity, and scholarly rigor in manuscripts submitted to our journals.

The updates are outlined below:

●  Prohibition on Al-Generated References and Requirements for Assisted Use

“Authors should not use AI for directly attributing references to cited text. When using AI for literature search, authors should carefully verify any references provided, as they may be inaccurate or fabricated;”

●  Comprehensive and Traceable Citation

“Authors are required to cite relevant and closely related literature for all statements derived from external sources of information, and to ensure that all cited data are traceable to their original sources.”

The complete and detailed policies are available for review on our website:

Editorial Policies: https://www.explorationpub.com/oep/Editorial_Policies

Author Instructions: Please refer to the respective journal pages for complete guidelines.

The primary purpose of these updates is to uphold the foundational principles of scholarly publishing—accuracy, accountability, and verifiability—in an era of increasingly accessible AI assistance. By clarifying acceptable practices, we aim to support authors in using these tools responsibly while safeguarding the trustworthiness of the published scientific record.

We kindly request all authors and contributors to consult these updated policies and ensure the manuscripts are prepared in accordance with these requirements.