GenAI in Research

GenAI technologies offer many potential benefits for research but they also present risks if implemented without due consideration to issues such as academic integrity, privacy and ethics.

This section aims to support you to:

• identify ways in which GenAI can be used responsibly to enhance and support research;
• define key guidelines underpinning responsible use of GenAI in research.

When deciding if, or how, you will use GenAI, it is useful to consider the following points adapted from the European Commission’s Living Guidelines on the Responsible Use of Generative AI in Research (2024):

• Researchers remain ultimately responsible for scientific output.
• Researchers should use GenAI transparently, i.e. by citing usage in outputs.
• Researchers should pay particular attention to issues related to privacy, confidentiality and intellectual property rights when sharing sensitive or protected information with AI tools.
• When using GenAI, researchers need to respect applicable national, EU and international legislation, as in their regular research activities.
• To maximise the benefits of GenAI tools, researchers should recognise that continuous learning may be needed and should consider undertaking training.
• Researchers should refrain from using GenAI tools substantially in sensitive activities that could impact other researchers or organisations (for example peer review, evaluation of research proposals etc).