Cell's AI Policy: Readability Only, Dedicated Disclosure Section, and No AI Images
Cell Press limits AI to readability improvements only, requires disclosure in a dedicated section before References using a provided template, and bans AI-generated images across all Cell Press journals.
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Quick answer: Cell Press takes a more conservative approach to AI than Nature or Science. Where those journals allow AI tools for general writing assistance with disclosure, Cell draws a tighter line: AI is permitted only for improving readability and language quality. That's a meaningful restriction, and it's one that authors submitting to Cell, Molecular Cell, Cancer Cell, Neuron, Immunity, or any other Cell Press title need to understand clearly.
Cell AI Policy at a Glance
- AI authorship: Prohibited. AI tools cannot be listed as authors and cannot take accountability for the work.
- AI disclosure: Required. Disclose use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini) in the Methods or Acknowledgments section.
- AI-generated images: Prohibited. AI-created figures, illustrations, or visualizations are not permitted in the manuscript.
- Copy editing: All AI use, including copy editing, must be disclosed.
The policy framework
Cell Press's AI policy has three pillars:
1. AI use is limited to readability improvements. You can use ChatGPT, Claude, or similar tools to polish your English, fix grammatical errors, and improve sentence clarity. You can't use them to generate scientific arguments, draft entire sections, summarize literature, or create new text content. The distinction is between editing (allowed) and generating (not allowed under the readability limitation).
2. Disclosure goes in a dedicated section. Unlike Nature (Methods) or Science (three separate locations), Cell Press created a specific disclosure section that sits immediately before the References. This is a structural choice that makes AI disclosure visible and standardized across all Cell Press papers.
3. AI-generated images are prohibited. No images from DALL-E, Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, or similar tools. This matches the industry consensus among top-tier journals.
The template statement
Cell Press provides authors with an exact template for disclosure:
"During the preparation of this work the author(s) used [NAME TOOL/SERVICE] in order to [REASON]. After using this tool/service, the author(s) reviewed and edited the content as needed and take(s) full responsibility for the content of the publication."
This template is useful because it tells you exactly what Cell expects. Fill in the tool name, describe the purpose, and affirm responsibility. You don't need to write your own disclosure from scratch.
A completed version would read:
"During the preparation of this work the authors used ChatGPT (OpenAI, GPT-4) in order to improve the English language quality of the Results section. After using this tool, the authors reviewed and edited the content as needed and take full responsibility for the content of the publication."
The readability restriction unpacked
Cell's "readability and language" limitation is stricter than it might appear. Here's what falls inside and outside the boundary:
Use case | Allowed under Cell policy? |
|---|---|
Grammar and spelling correction | Yes |
Rewriting sentences for clarity | Yes |
Improving English for non-native speakers | Yes |
Adjusting tone from informal to academic | Yes |
Generating a paragraph summarizing results | No (content generation) |
Having AI draft an introduction | No (content generation) |
Using AI to suggest analysis approaches | No (scientific content) |
AI-assisted literature review | Gray area (not readability) |
Code generation for data analysis | Not addressed in readability scope |
Generating figure legends | No (content generation) |
The gray areas are real. Cell's policy was written primarily with text generation in mind, and some AI use cases (like using an LLM to help structure a Methods section or suggest statistical approaches) don't fit cleanly into "readability" or "content generation." When in doubt, the safer approach is to either avoid that use or contact the editorial office for clarification.
Scope across Cell Press
Cell Press publishes some of the most prestigious journals in biomedical science. The AI policy applies to all of them:
- Cell (IF ~45)
- Cancer Cell (IF ~48)
- Molecular Cell (IF ~14)
- Cell Metabolism (IF ~27)
- Cell Stem Cell (IF ~19)
- Cell Host & Microbe (IF ~20)
- Immunity (IF ~25)
- Neuron (IF ~14)
- Current Biology (IF ~8)
- Cell Reports (IF ~7)
- Cell Reports Medicine
- iScience
- And all other Cell Press titles
Cell Press is part of Elsevier, but Cell Press journals maintain their own editorial policies that are more specific than Elsevier's general guidelines. The Cell Press AI policy takes precedence over Elsevier's broader publisher-level policy for submissions to Cell Press journals.
How Cell enforces the policy
Cell Press doesn't use AI detection software systematically. Like other top journals, enforcement relies on:
- Author declaration during submission. The submission system asks authors to confirm compliance with editorial policies, including the AI policy.
- Editorial judgment. Editors and reviewers who suspect undisclosed AI use can flag manuscripts for further scrutiny.
- Post-publication investigation. If undisclosed AI use is identified after publication, Cell Press can issue corrections or, in serious cases, retract the paper.
Cell Press hasn't publicly classified AI policy violations as "scientific misconduct" (unlike Science/AAAS). The response appears to be handled on a case-by-case basis, considering the extent of the violation and its impact on the scientific content.
The image ban
Cell Press's prohibition on AI-generated images applies to all visual content in the manuscript:
- Main figures
- Supplementary figures
- Graphical abstracts (Cell's graphical abstract requirement makes this particularly relevant)
- Cover art suggestions
- Schematic diagrams
Cell is well known for its high visual standards. The journal's graphical abstracts and cover images are distinctive features of Cell Press publications. The AI image ban protects both the scientific integrity of visual data and the editorial brand that Cell has built around visual presentation.
For authors creating graphical abstracts, which Cell requires for most article types, use traditional illustration tools (Adobe Illustrator, BioRender, PowerPoint) rather than generative AI tools.
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Cell vs. other elite biomedical journals
Feature | Cell Press | Nature | Science | NEJM | The Lancet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Permitted AI use | Readability only | General writing assistance | General writing assistance | Writing assistance with disclosure | Readability and language only |
Disclosure location | Dedicated section before References | Methods | Cover letter + acknowledgments + methods | Cover letter + manuscript | Acknowledgments |
Template provided | Yes | No | No | No | No |
AI images | Banned | Banned | Banned (editor exceptions) | Not explicitly addressed | Banned |
AI authorship | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited |
Elsevier parent policy | Cell Press policy takes precedence | N/A | N/A | N/A | Lancet-specific rules override Elsevier |
Cell Press and The Lancet (also Elsevier) share the "readability only" restriction, which is more conservative than Nature or Science. Both override Elsevier's more general publisher-level policy with journal-specific rules.
Practical advice for Cell Press submissions
The readability test. Before using AI on your Cell manuscript, ask: "Am I using this tool to make existing text clearer, or to create new content?" If the answer is "create new content," you're outside Cell's permitted use.
Non-native English speakers. Cell's policy explicitly supports using AI for language improvement. If English isn't your first language, you can use ChatGPT or Claude to polish your prose without concern, as long as you disclose it using the template. This is exactly the use case Cell designed the policy for.
The dedicated section. Don't put your AI disclosure in the Methods or acknowledgments. Cell specifically created a section that goes immediately before References. Using the wrong location signals that you didn't read the journal's guidelines, which isn't the impression you want to make.
Graphical abstracts. Cell requires graphical abstracts for most submissions. These must be author-created using traditional tools. If you used BioRender or Adobe Illustrator, that's fine. If you used Midjourney to generate a concept and then traced over it, you're in problematic territory.
The Elsevier overlap. If you previously submitted to another Elsevier journal and are resubmitting to a Cell Press title, don't assume the same AI policy applies. Cell Press has stricter rules than Elsevier's general policy.
Preparing a manuscript for Cell Press? A Cell submission readiness check can help ensure your paper meets the journal's standards, including proper AI disclosure formatting.
Bottom line
Cell Press allows AI for readability and language improvement only, not for content generation. Disclosure goes in a dedicated section before References using a provided template. AI-generated images are banned. The policy applies across all Cell Press journals, from Cell itself to Cell Reports and iScience. It's more restrictive than Nature or Science on what's allowed, but the template and dedicated section make compliance straightforward if you stay within the readability boundary.
What should you do about Cell's's AI policy?
Comply proactively if:
- You used any AI tool (ChatGPT, Grammarly, Copilot) during manuscript preparation
- The journal requires AI use disclosure in the methods or acknowledgments
- Your institution has its own AI use policy that may be stricter
Less concerned if:
- You used AI only for grammar/spell checking (most journals exempt this)
- The journal does not have a formal AI policy yet
- Your use was limited to literature search or reference management
Frequently asked questions
Cell Press limits AI use to improving readability and language quality. Authors can use LLMs to polish grammar, improve sentence structure, and enhance clarity for non-native English speakers. Using AI for data analysis, generating scientific content, or producing figures is not covered under this allowance.
In a dedicated section placed immediately before the References. Cell Press provides a template statement: 'During the preparation of this work the author(s) used [NAME TOOL/SERVICE] in order to [REASON].
No. Cell Press prohibits AI-generated images in manuscripts. This includes figures, graphical abstracts, and any visual content produced by generative AI tools like DALL-E, Midjourney, or Stable Diffusion.
Yes. The policy applies uniformly across all Cell Press titles, including Cell, Molecular Cell, Cell Metabolism, Cell Stem Cell, Cell Host & Microbe, Cancer Cell, Immunity, Neuron, Current Biology, and all other journals in the portfolio.
Cell Press restricts AI to readability improvements only, while Nature allows broader use. Cell requires disclosure in a dedicated section before References, while Nature uses the Methods section. Both ban AI images and AI authorship. Cell provides a specific template statement; Nature doesn't.
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