Proofig AI FAQs

Discover how Proofig AI empowers researchers, publishers, and institutions to ensure image quality and integrity in peer-reviewed articles.

About Proofig AI and Its Role in Peer Reviewed Articles

About Proofig AI and Its role in peer reviewed articles

As an experienced scientific researcher for over two decades, Dr. Dror Kolodkin-Gal, Proofig AI co-founder, has witnessed the impact of inadvertent image errors in publications – errors that take a toll upon researchers, their institutes and publishers. Dr. Kolodkin-Gal identified a gap in solutions to prevent these errors, and he partnered with his fellow co-founders to develop this innovation, now known as Proofig AI.

Where does Proofig AI stand in the field of image verification for peer reviewed articles?

Proofig AI is at the forefront of scientific image verification, collaborating with world-leading scientific publishers, journals, and research institutions. Our innovative AI-powered platform offers unique capabilities to detect various forms of image manipulations, including AI-generated images. Proofig AI’s wide adoption by major publishers and universities, coupled with recognition from leading research integrity officers, underscores our position as a trusted leader in maintaining scientific image integrity.

Image Integrity in Peer Reviewed Articles

What kind of integrity issues can Proofig AI detect?

Proofig AI’s system detects a wide range of image issues, including:

Reuse from published papers (plagiarism)
Duplications and reuse within a manuscript
Alterations and manipulations within images (e.g., cloning, editing, splicing)
AI-generated images
Self-Plagiarism

Our technology works across various image types, including microscopy, Western blots, and FACS images. Proofig AI’s comprehensive analysis compares images within the manuscript against each other and with extensive databases of published material, particularly those found in PubMed open access database, ensuring the uniqueness and integrity of your images. Click here to see some examples of the image errors Proofig AI detects.

What type of scientific images in peer reviewed articles is Proofig AI intended for?

Proofig AI uses an advanced AI system and image processing to analyze a wide variety of images, including:

All types of microscopies (confocal, light or electron)
Western blot
FACS
In-vivo and in-vitro images
Plants, plates, and more

Why is it essential to pre-check figures in an article?

Pre-checking figures is crucial because:

Journals only publish a fraction of the articles submitted by researchers. Ensuring image integrity could increase your chances of publication.
Even honest mistakes can lead to image integrity issues. Studies indicate that about 25% of all life science articles published may contain inappropriate image manipulations, duplications, or other integrity problems, most unintentionally.
An estimated 35,000 articles published between 2009 to 2016 might be prone to post-publication retraction due to faulty figures.
Proofig AI’s advanced AI technology detects various forms of image manipulation, duplication, AI-generated images, and other integrity issues, helping you avoid costly retractions and protect your reputation.

(1) Morten P. Oksvold, Incidence of Data Duplications in a Randomly Selected Pool of Life Science Publications, Science and Engineering Ethics volume 22, pages487–496, 2016.

(2) Bik EM, et all., Analysis and correction of inappropriate image duplication: the Molecular and Cellular Biology Experience. Mol Cell Bio. 38 (20), 2018.

Detecting Plagiarism and Self-Plagiarism in Scientific Images

Does Proofig AI function as a plagiarism detector for scientific images?

Proofig AI acts as a plagiarism detector by analyzing your manuscript for image duplications and reuses that may constitute plagiarism. It compares images within your manuscript and against extensive databases to detect potential overlaps or repetitions, helping you ensure the originality and integrity of your work.

Can Proofig AI detect self-plagiarized images in my manuscript?

Yes, Proofig AI can detect self-plagiarized images by identifying instances where images from your previous publications are reused. By highlighting these cases, Proofig AI helps you adhere to ethical research practices and avoid potential publication issues related to self-plagiarism.

How does Proofig AI compare to manual image checking in terms of accuracy and time efficiency?

Proofig AI offers higher accuracy and significant time savings compared to manual checking. By helping to maintain the integrity of published research, Proofig AI can indirectly contribute to enhancing a journal’s standing in Journal Citation Reports. Our AI consistently applies rigorous standards, detecting subtle manipulations that might be missed by the human eye.

Enhancing Publication Success

How does Proofig AI assist researchers aiming to publish in Web of Science-indexed journals?

Proofig AI supports researchers targeting journals in the Web of Science by ensuring their scientific images meet rigorous publication standards. The platform uses advanced AI to detect potential image integrity issues, such as duplications, manipulations, and unintended reuse. By identifying these issues before submission, Proofig AI helps researchers align with the high-quality standards expected by top-tier journals, increasing the likelihood of acceptance while safeguarding research credibility and reputation.

Why is image integrity important for journals listed in the Science Citation Index, and how does Proofig AI help?

Image integrity is crucial for journals listed in the Science Citation Index as they are recognized for publishing high-quality, impactful research. Proofig AI helps authors and editors maintain these standards by detecting image manipulation, duplication, and other integrity issues, ensuring your work adheres to the strict guidelines of these journals.

How can Proofig AI help improve a journal's ranking and credibility in the Journal Citation Reports?

Proofig AI contributes to enhancing a journal’s ranking and credibility in the Journal Citation Reports by ensuring the integrity and quality of the articles it publishes. By detecting and preventing image integrity issues before publication, Proofig AI helps reduce the risk of retractions and corrections that can negatively impact a journal’s reputation and impact factor. Maintaining high standards of research integrity leads to increased trust and citations from the scientific community, positively influencing the journal’s ranking in the Journal Citation Reports.

Proofig AI's Advanced Features

Can Proofig AI detect image integrity issues in non-life science fields?

While our focus is currently on the life sciences, Proofig AI’s technology is rapidly advancing and can detect image integrity issues in a wide range of scientific fields. Our technology is designed to analyze any captured (not computer-generated) scientific images, regardless of the field of study.

How does Proofig AI handle images with intentional legitimate duplications (e.g. intentional scaling \ merge in confocal microscopy)?

Proofig AI flags all potential duplications without making final judgments. This approach is crucial because intentional duplications, like intentional scaling, are a legitimate part of scientific research. We provide advanced investigation tools to help users examine flagged images in detail. Users have the final decision on which issues to include in the report, ensuring that intentional and valid duplications are not misclassified as integrity issues.

How does Proofig AI stay updated with new AI image generation techniques?

Proofig AI continuously monitors advancements in AI image generation. Like an immune system adapting to new threats, we’re committed to expanding our capabilities to protect scientific integrity. We strive to enhance our detection algorithms as new AI models emerge in the field.

What is a sub-image?

A sub-image is related to any single image, for example, one microscopy picture or one line of western blot bands. Proofig AI can analyze a wide variety of images, including western blot bands, all types of microscopy slides (confocal, light, or electron), plates, plants, mice, in-vitro and in-vivo images, and more.

Who needs Proofig AI's solutions?

Publishers and editors for pre- and post-publication integrity analysis
Universities and research institutions
Principal investigators and researchers
Individual researchers
Grant committees and funding bodies
Patent offices
Research ethics committees and integrity officers

Whether you’re preparing to publish, submit a grant, file a patent, or review published work, Proofig AI ensures image integrity.

How do I get started?

Using Proofig AI is simple:

Log in to your Proofig AI account.
Upload your manuscript or images (PDF or image files).
Our AI system automatically analyzes the images.
Review the results and any flagged issues.
Generate a comprehensive report with one click.

The entire process is automated and typically takes just a few minutes. Our platform includes intuitive guides to assist you at every step.

How much time does the entire process take?

Only a few minutes. Proofig AI’s automated system allows you to receive an entire analysis of your article’s figures in less than 10 minutes and automatically generates an analysis report.

Do I need to submit all files manually?

Proofig AI supports both manual and automated uploads. You can also upload your manuscripts individually or by automated system using REST API, allowing an automated connection.

How much does it cost?

Our pricing is based on the number of sub-images. We also offer a volume discount. You can also buy a yearly package that fits your needs. For more information, please visit our Pricing Page, or contact us sites with detailed information.

Many top universities and research institutions are adopting Proofig AI to ensure the integrity of their manuscripts for pre-publication. We offer customizable pricing packages tailored to the unique needs of each customer. For information on institutional licenses, please reach out to us directly – contact us.

Technical Specifications

What type of files does Proofig AI support, and can I upload images?

Proofig AI supports the analysis of your entire article via a single PDF file, up to 50MB, with less than 200 pages and up to 500 sub-images. You can also upload images, which Proofig AI will automatically convert into a PDF for analysis. Simply upload your manuscript or images, and Proofig AI will do all the hard work for you.

What are the system requirements?

Proofig AI supports Chrome browser. Firefox, Safari, and IE are currently not supported.

Do I need high-quality sub-images?

No, the PDF quality is checked on a 300DPI resolution.

What do I need to download to work with Proofig AI?

Nothing – the Proofig AI system is available to use online. You can log in from any computer to upload your images or view your report. You can also print your final report or save it as a PDF.

Privacy and Security

Does Proofig AI use users' data to train their system and algorithms?

No, Proofig AI never uses data from user-uploaded manuscripts to train our models. We train our system exclusively using already published material within legal constraints. User-uploaded data is analyzed solely to detect image integrity issues in the submitted manuscript, including accidental plagiarism and self-plagiarized content, helping you adhere to ethical standards.

How does Proofig AI ensure the confidentiality of my data?

All analyses are conducted on private, secure servers. Your manuscripts and reports remain fully confidential and never used for any other purposes. We adhere to strict data privacy and security protocols to protect your data.

Who sees my images and my results?

Proofig AI’s system uses a private server for you to log in and upload your file. You receive your results confidentiality and privately.