Depends on the program. The funder sets the rule in each program's guidelines, so check the program a PI is applying to.
What applicants may do
- Mars competition: AI tools may support idea generation, research and understanding, outlining, and grammar or spelling review, in both the preliminary and final proposals. [1]
- Graduate Research Video Competition: generative AI may be used in research and planning for purposes allowed under the IFT AI policy, such as general-knowledge questions, understanding a topic, and idea development. [2]
- Graduate Research Video Competition: basic editing tools may trim footage, adjust audio or lighting, and add captions, if they do not generate new content using AI. [2]
What the funder asks of applicants
- Mars competition finalists: if generative AI creates or modifies images, illustrations, or graphics in the PowerPoint slides, the use must be clearly disclosed, for example 'generated using XX AI tool'. [1]
What is off limits
- Mars competition: AI should not generate or substantially write the final proposal. It must reflect the students' own ideas, analysis, reasoning, and writing. [1]
- Graduate Research Video Competition: AI may not create any part of the final video, including narration, voiceover, footage, animations, or other generated audiovisual content. [2]
If an applicant breaks the rule
Rules for reviewers
Institute of Food Technologists has published no rules for reviewers.
Where this comes from
The funder's own words, from its own pages.
AI tools may be used to support idea generation, research and understanding, outlining, and grammar or spelling review. However, it should not be used to generate or substantially write the final proposal submitted for the competition.
The final proposal must reflect the students' own ideas, analysis, reasoning, and writing.
If generative AI is used to create visual content or modify image, illustration sor graphics used in the power point slides, it must be clearly disclosed for example “generated using XX AI tool”.
Graduate Research Video Competition: Rules and Guidelines (opens in a new tab)
Generative AI tools may be used during the research and planning process for purposes allowed under the IFT AI policy, such as general-knowledge questions, improving understanding of a topic, and idea development.
However, it may not be used to create any part of the final video submission including narration or voiceover, video footage, animations or other generated audiovisual content.
Basic editing tools may be used for trimming footage, adjusting audio or lighting, adding captions, and similar editing functions, provided these functions do not generate new content using AI.
Failure to comply with any of the rules of the competition may result in disqualification.
See Institute of Food Technologists's 1 open program
This is a reading of what the funder has published, and it is not legal advice. A solicitation can set its own rule, so read the funding announcement before a PI applies.