Trotman’s stance on AI and publishing 

Trotman Publishing is committed to publishing books and digital resources to a high ethical and quality standard. We value originality and human creativity from the start of a book’s journey all the way through to publication and beyond. We do not recognise AI as fulfilling the conditions of authorship and authors are expected to ensure that their manuscripts are both accurate and original.  

We recognise that many of our authors will choose not to use AI tools at all. However, Trotman acknowledges that AI is developing rapidly and that there are assistive AI tools offering solutions that can now support rather than replace human creativity. These assistive tools can facilitate creative processes, though they still pose various risks, such as bias, factual inaccuracy, provenance and the potential loss of an author’s intellectual property rights.  

We’ve created our AI policy to help authors navigate this complex and rapidly changing area. The policy sets out clear parameters for how you may and may not use AI tools during the research, planning, creation and development of works submitted to Trotman.  

Collapsible content

Using AI safely 

You may only input your own work or any part of it into an AI tool if you are using a private AI system and the work is your own intellectual property. We recommend you use a private or locally hosted generative AI tool or large language model (LLM) wherever possible, as inputs remain secure and are not shared with third parties. 
You should exercise caution when using public AI tools and LLMs, such as Chat GPT, as inputting content could lead to unintended distribution or use. Furthermore, many works contain material protected by third-party copyright, and the original rights holders might not have consented to their work being shared in this way. Even if you are using a private or locally hosted generative AI tool or LLM you should still follow the rest of the guidance included in our AI policy. You should use your best judgement and consult your commissioning editor if you have any concerns about using AI safely.

Using AI for research and planning 

You may use AI tools for conducting preliminary research, brainstorming ideas, exploring different perspectives and structuring your thinking. However, we urge you to exercise your judgment and use AI tools cautiously for this purpose. While it can be a helpful creative tool, AI is not faultless and it does not replace search engines and traditional research methods. Furthermore, AI search tools can produce fabrication of facts, dates, names and references, so we always recommend authors verify any AI-generated research and facts. 

Using AI for writing

Your book or digital resource must be your own original, intellectual work and you may not use AI to write it for you. We do not accept AI-generated content for publication. “AI-generated content” means any content originally created using an AI tool, even if you substantially edit it yourself afterwards. AI-generated text lacks the capacity for independent thought and accountability. It is also prone to errors, including spelling mistakes and the fabrication of facts, dates, names, and references. This all undermines the integrity of the work, and it can be difficult to detect. 

Using AI for editing and refining 

You may use AI tools to assist in the editing and refining of text, provided that you originally created the content yourself and you are using a private AI system. AI tools are now embedded in everyday applications such as Microsoft Office. They can be a helpful, time-saving resource for authors to refine expressions of thought or ensure clarity. However, we urge you to use these tools carefully and check any AI-edited work thoroughly, as AI tools are prone to errors and inaccuracies. All manuscripts submitted to Trotman undergo professional copy-editing to ensure the highest editorial standards.

Using AI for creating or editing images 

As a general rule, you may not use AI tools for creating images, but you may use them for image editing, modification and enhancement provided that the images being edited are entirely your own original work. You may not edit, modify or enhance third-party images. However, this is a complicated topic, and we encourage authors to discuss their specific needs with their commissioning editor. Using AI to generate simple diagrams or charts is generally acceptable. However, using AI to generate artwork such as cartoons, paintings, or photorealistic images poses legal and ethical concerns, as these artworks may incorporate elements derived from copyrighted works without the original creators' consent. Any use of images in your book must also adhere to our Author Guidelines.

Author checklist 

  • You must disclose any use of AI tools beyond the research and planning stage to your commissioning editor. 
  • This policy does not affect in any way your contractual obligations, which you must comply with. 
  • Ask your commissioning editor if you are unsure about any of the guidance in this policy.  
  • If for any reason you inadvertently breach this policy or if you believe you may need to deviate from this policy, you must raise the matter with your commissioning editor.