The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced the implementation of a new policy aimed at regulating the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in research grant applications, to ensure that originality and scientific credibility are maintained in the submission process. According to the policy, no applications will be accepted that contain parts that were primarily developed using AI, whether in writing research manuscripts, designing experiments, or analyzing raw data, with the aim of reducing over-reliance on technology and preserving the scientific value of human contributions. The new policy also includes a cap on the maximum number of applications a PI can submit in a year, a measure aimed at distributing opportunities more equitably among researchers and encouraging fair competition. According to the institutes, the move is intended to enhance the quality of scientific research and prevent any attempt to exploit AI in a way that minimizes human effort. The policy is expected to affect researchers who are accustomed to integrating AI tools in writing research proposals, forcing them to rely more on their own writing and analysis skills. The move comes as part of ongoing efforts by U.S. scientific bodies to ensure the integrity of scientific research and promote confidence in the results of publicly funded studies.
NIH imposes restrictions on the use of AI in grant applications.
