AI in Research

Harvard Guidance on Use of AI in Research

• HMS: https://it.hms.harvard.edu/about/policies/responsible-use-generative-ai
• Harvard: https://www.huit.harvard.edu/ai/guidelines

Funding Agency AI Requirements

AI requirements vary by agency and by activity. Review the applicable guidance before using AI to prepare a proposal, participate in peer review, or perform funded work.

• NIH research applications:Supporting Fairness and Originality in NIH Research Applications — NIH will not consider applications, or sections of applications, substantially developed by AI to be the applicant’s original ideas.
• NIH peer review: Use of Generative AI in the NIH Peer Review Process — NIH scientific peer reviewers may not use generative AI to analyze applications or develop critiques.
• NIH-supported research: Helpful Reminders to Ensure Integrity of NIH-Supported Research When Using AI — Guidance on responsible AI use in applications, research, and reporting.
• NSF proposals and merit review:Use of Generative AI Technology in the NSF Merit Review Process — NSF prohibits reviewers from uploading proposal or review materials to non-approved generative AI tools. Proposers are encouraged to describe their AI use and remain responsible for the accuracy and authenticity of their submissions.
• DoD contracts: NDAA 2026 Guidance and Prohibition on Use of Certain Artificial Intelligence — Harvard guidance on prohibited use of specified DeepSeek and High Flyer-related AI in DoD contract work, including requirements for covered individuals.

AI in Research Misconduct Proceedings

• ORI guidance to help institutions address the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in research misconduct proceedings. https://ori.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/2026-08/ORI%20Generative%20Artificial%20Intelligence%20Guidance_final.pdf

AI in Grant Proposal/Peer Review Process

• Helpful Reminders to Ensure Integrity of NIH Research: https://grants.nih.gov/news-events/nih-extramural-nexus-news/2026/05/helpful-reminders-to-ensure-integrity-of-nih-supported-research-when-using-artificial-intelligence
• NIH Peer Review: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-23-149.html
• NSF Reviews and Proposals: https://new.nsf.gov/news/notice-to-the-research-community-on-ai

AI in Authorship and Publications

• Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Authorship Guidelines: https://publicationethics.org/cope-position-statements/ai-author
• World Association of Medical Editors (WAME) Recommendations for Scholarly Publications: https://wame.org/page3.php?id=106

AI in Human Genomic Data Research

• Protecting Human Genomic Data when Developing Generative Artificial Intelligence Tools and Applications: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-25-081.html  
   

AI Tools available at Harvard

• HUIT Generative AI Tools Comparison: https://huit.harvard.edu/ai/tools
• Level 3 data and below can be used with the following tools:
  • Harvard AI Sandbox
  • OpenAI ChatGPT Edu
  • AI Meeting Assistants
  • Adobe Firefly
  • Google Gemini
  • Microsoft Copilot
  • Anthropic Claude
     

AI Best Practices

1. You should not enter data classified as confidential (Level 2 and above), including non-public research data, into publicly-available generative AI tools, in accordance with the University’s Information Security Policy.
2. AI Tools cannot be listed as an author on a paper.
3. The NIH prohibits NIH scientific peer reviewers from using natural language processors, large language models, or other generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies for analyzing and formulating peer review critiques for grant applications and R&D contract proposals.
4. NSF reviewers are prohibited from uploading any content from proposals, review information and related records to non-approved generative AI tools.
5. Authors should be transparent when AI tools are used and provide information about how AI tools were used.