AI use in research

It is your responsibility to ensure that all your activities using AI are carried out ethically and within the University's regulations. See the guidance on the Secretariat webpages:

Guidance to staff on the use of artificial intelligence

 

Procedures governing the use of AI in research

University ethics approval

All researchers must carry out an ethical review through the established faculty research ethics committee (FREC) procedure for research that has an ethical aspect. At present, you don’t need an ethical review for just using or developing AI tools. However, there may be other aspects of your research which do need ethical review.

The governance of research that uses or develops AI tools is currently being reviewed. In future some types of AI research may require a full ethical review. Any policy changes will be communicated to all researchers.

Research funder regulations

Research funders are developing policies to make sure that research they fund that involves AI is carried out ethically and responsibly. These must be followed as well as the University's regulations.

Some research funders ask for information when you apply for a grant and there are regulations to follow when a grant is awarded.

If there is any conflict between funder and University regulations, please email: AI@leeds.ac.uk for guidance.

External organisations' regulations

All presentation of work (eg conferences, publications, presentations) that has used AI should comply with research funder, conference organiser or publisher AI guidelines and regulations.

If there is any conflict between external and University regulations, please email: AI@leeds.ac.uk for guidance.

Supervisor responsibility

As a research supervisor, your responsibility is to ensure that your students are fully informed of University policies and regulations about ethical and responsible use of AI in their teaching and research work. Students have full responsibility for how they use AI in their learning and research work.

Guidance for research postgraduates is being developed.