AI-Generated Figure Policy Tracker
How 9 major publishers and standards bodies treat AI-generated images and figures — whether they are allowed, whether schematics and graphical abstracts are permitted, what disclosure is required, and whether AI can be an author. Every row links to the official policy page and shows any date the publisher displays.
| Publisher | AI-generated images | Schematics / illustrations | Disclosure | AI as author | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not permitted — generative AI images/video cannot be used for publication (legal issues unresolved) | Covered by the general generative-AI image ban; limited exceptions reviewed case-by-case | Non-generative image tools: disclose in the relevant caption. LLM text use: document in Methods (AI copy-editing exempt) | No — LLMs do not meet authorship criteria (accountability) | Official policyNot shown | |
| Only in specific circumstances — most AI figure creation is restricted | Explanatory images allowed with disclosure (flow charts, decision trees, timelines, schematic conceptual illustrations, workflow diagrams). Graphical abstracts: general-purpose AI tools NOT permitted. Cover art: prior editor permission required | Disclose in each image caption (tool, version, how used) AND in the article AI declaration statement | No — AI must not be listed or cited as an author | Official policyJune 2026 | |
| Permitted for data visualizations and illustrations; restricted for photographs | Allowed (data visualizations and illustrations). Graphical abstracts not separately addressed | Must disclose AI use at submission (may be requested later); substantial editing/development/translation described in the manuscript. Spelling/grammar tools exempt | No — per COPE, AI tools cannot be listed as an author | Official policyNot shown | |
| Split — permitted for research data visualizations and conceptual illustrations; prohibited for research/clinical/diagnostic image outputs | Explicitly permitted: conceptual illustrations of processes, flow diagrams, teaching illustrations. Graphical abstracts not named | Acknowledge in the article: full tool name (with version), how used, and reason. Article submissions require a specific AI usage statement | No — AI tools cannot assume responsibility or manage copyright, so may not be listed as author | Official policyNot shown | |
| Allowed if disclosed (no ban) — policy names figures and images | Not separately addressed (page speaks generically of figures/images) | Disclose AI-generated content in the Acknowledgments; identify the AI system and the specific sections, with a brief explanation. Editing/grammar use exempt (disclosure recommended) | Not addressed on this specific page | Official policyApril 16, 2024 | |
| Not prohibited outright — allowed with disclosure and full human responsibility; "image creators" named explicitly | Umbrella term "image creators" only — no sub-type breakdown | Disclose in BOTH the cover letter and the appropriate section of the work; if AI was used for data/figure generation, describe it in Methods | No — chatbots cannot be responsible for accuracy/integrity/originality, so cannot be authors | Official policyNot shown (AI language added Jan 2024) | |
| Clinical images/illustrations created or manipulated by AI are NOT permitted (unless part of disclosed formal research); other AI content discouraged | Clinical illustrations barred; other AI-created content discouraged unless described with model/version/manufacturer | Report in Acknowledgment or Methods: description of the AI-generated content, plus name/version/extension and manufacturer of the tool | No — nonhuman AI tools cannot be authors | Official policyGuidance published July 27, 2023 | |
| Not explicitly permitted or prohibited as a category — the only hard rule is that AI must not fabricate or misrepresent primary research data | Not addressed on official PLOS pages (see note correcting a common myth) | Report AI contributions in a dedicated Methods section (or Acknowledgements): tool name(s), how used, how validity was evaluated, and which parts were AI-affected | No (implied) — articles must report the listed authors’ own work; other contributions must be attributed | Official policyNot shown | |
| Reported as not permitted without explicit editor permission (exceptions for AI-focused manuscripts) — SEE VERIFICATION NOTE | Not separately confirmed | Reported: note in the cover letter and Methods/Acknowledgements, including the prompt, tool and version — SEE VERIFICATION NOTE | Reported: not permitted — SEE VERIFICATION NOTE | Official policyNot confirmed |
The big picture
Publishers largely converge on three points: generative AI must not create or alter images of real experimental or clinical data; AI use must be disclosed (usually in the caption, Methods, or acknowledgements); and AI cannot be an author. They diverge sharply on AI-made schematics and graphical abstracts — some permit explanatory illustrations with disclosure, while others prohibit AI graphical abstracts or generative images outright. Expand any row for the full detail and any recommended disclosure wording.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use AI-generated images in a journal article?
It depends on the publisher and the image type. Explanatory schematics and illustrations are permitted by several publishers (with disclosure), but AI creation or alteration of images representing real experimental or clinical data is widely prohibited, and some publishers ban generative AI images or AI graphical abstracts outright. Check the specific publisher's row.
Do I have to disclose AI use in my figures?
In almost all cases, yes. Publishers typically require disclosure in the image caption, the Methods section, or the acknowledgements, naming the tool and version and describing how it was used. Editing/grammar-only tools are often exempt.
Can an AI tool be listed as an author?
No. Every publisher and standards body here that addresses authorship prohibits it, because an AI cannot take responsibility for the accuracy and integrity of the work.
Why is one row marked unverified?
Science / AAAS blocks automated access to its policy page, so we could not confirm its wording directly. That row is a best-effort summary from the page's search index and is clearly flagged — confirm it on the official page before relying on it.
Preparing a submission? See the exact size and format rules per journal:
Journal Figure Requirements reference