In short
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) sets limits on how applicants may use generative AI. Applicants must not use it to generate an entire application, or sections of one, without human involvement. They must not use it in interviews that form part of the application process. Applicants are expected to be open about where they used generative AI in developing an application, and UKRI states that this information will not affect assessment. Minimal use, such as translation or improving English, does not need to be disclosed.
Limits AI. Applicants may use AI for some tasks, and the funder restricts how much of an application AI may write.
For applicants
- Applicants are expected to be transparent about where they used generative AI tools in developing an application. UKRI lists examples of substantive use that could be declared: assisting idea generation or development of hypotheses, interpreting, analysing or summarising data and text, comparing literature sources, generating or refining code, and generating an abstract. UKRI states that this information will not affect the assessment process. [1]
- Applicants do not need to disclose minimal use of generative AI tools. UKRI gives these examples of minimal use: translating applications from other languages into English, improving the standard of English, formatting, and reducing word count. [1]
- Applicants must not use generative AI tools to generate an entire application, or sections of an application, without human involvement. [1]
- Applicants must not use generative AI during interviews, where interviews form part of the application process. [1]
- Sensitive or personal data of other people must never be input into a generative AI tool without formal consent from the individual. Applicants must also make sure that any AI output they use contains no information that is confidential and used without consent, falsified, fabricated, plagiarised or misrepresented. [1]
- The policy on use of generative AI in application preparation and assessment applies to all UKRI funding opportunities. [2]
For reviewers
- Assessors, including reviewers and panellists, must not use generative AI tools in their assessment activities, except to refine language. [1]
- Assessors who use generative AI to refine the language of a review must make sure that no part of the application being assessed is entered into the tool. They must also make sure that no personal information from the application is disclosed. The tool must not be tasked with understanding, summarising or evaluating the content of the application. [1]
- Assessors must not take into account, or speculate in their assessment about, whether generative AI was used to develop the application. [1]
Sources
In line with current sector good practice, applicants and applications are expected to be transparent where they have used generative AI tools in the development of an application. This information will not affect the assessment process.
Applicants do not need to disclose any minimal use of generative AI tools in their application.
Applicants must not use generative AI tools to generate an entire application, or sections of an application, without human involvement.
Applicants must not use generative AI during interviews, where this forms part of the application process.
Sensitive or personal data of others must never be input into a generative AI tool without formal consent from the individual.
not use generative AI tools as part of their assessment activities except for language refinement purposes
generative AI is not tasked with understanding, summarising or evaluating the application’s content
not take into account or speculate within their assessment whether generative AI has been used to develop the application
Examples of substantive use that could be declared: assisting idea generation or development of hypotheses interpreting, analysing or summarising data (including audio, image files) and text comparing literature sources generating or refining code generating an abstract
Applicants do not need to disclose any minimal use of generative AI tools in their application. Examples of minimal use include: translating applications from other languages to English improving the standard of English formatting or reducing word count.
you must ensure this does not contain any information that is: confidential and used without consent falsified fabricated plagiarised misrepresented
Assessors, including reviewers and panellists, must: not use generative AI tools as part of their assessment activities except for language refinement purposes
When using generative AI to refine the language of a review, assessors must ensure that: no part of the application being assessed is entered into generative AI no personal information from the application is disclosed generative AI is not tasked with understanding, summarising or evaluating the application’s content
Generative artificial intelligence in application and assessment policy (opens in a new tab)
The policy on use of generative AI in application preparation and assessment applies to all UKRI funding opportunities.
See UK Research and Innovation's 1 open program
This page summarizes what the funder has published and is not legal advice. Policies change, and one solicitation can add its own rules. Confirm against the funding announcement before you apply.