AI and ChatGPT in Science and the Humanities - DFG Formulates Guidelines for Dealing with Generative Models

The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) has formulated initial guidelines for dealing with generative models for text and image creation. A statement now published by the Executive Committee of the largest research funding organisation and central self-governing organisation for science and the humanities in Germany sheds light on the influence of ChatGPT and other generative AI models on science and the humanities and on the DFG's funding activities. As a starting point for continuous monitoring and support, the paper seeks to provide guidance for researchers in their work as well as for applicants to the DFG and those involved in the review, evaluation and decision-making process.

In the view of the DFG Executive Committee, AI technologies are already changing the entire work process in science and the humanities, knowledge production and creativity to a significant degree and are being used in various ways in the different research disciplines, albeit for differing purposes. In terms of generative models for text and image creation, this development is still very much in its infancy.

"In view of its considerable opportunities and development potential, the use of generative models in the context of research work should by no means be ruled out," says the paper: "However, certain binding framework conditions will be required in order to ensure good research practice and the quality of research results." Here, too, the standards of good research practice generally established in science and the humanities are fundamental.

In terms of concrete guidelines, the DFG Executive Committee says that when making their results publicly available, researchers should disclose whether or not they have used generative models and if so, which ones, for what purpose and to what extent. This also includes funding proposals submitted to the DFG. The use of such models does not relieve researchers of their own content-related and formal responsibility to adhere to the basic principles of research integrity.

Only the natural persons responsible may appear as authors in research publications, states the paper. "They must ensure that the use of generative models does not infringe anyone else’s intellectual property and does not result in scientific misconduct, for example in the form of plagiarism," the paper goes on.

The use of generative models based on these principles is to be permissible when submitting proposals to the DFG. In the preparation of reviews, on the other hand, their use is inadmissible due to the confidentiality of assessment process, states the paper, adding: "Documents provided for review are confidential and in particular may not be used as input for generative models."

Instructions to applicants and to those involved in the evaluation process are currently being added to the relevant documents and technical systems at the DFG Head Office.

Following on from these initial guidelines, the DFG intends to analyse and assess the opportunities and potential risks of using generative models in science and the humanities and in its own funding activities on an ongoing basis. A Senate Working Group on the Digital Turn is to address overarching epistemic and subject-specific issues in this context. Any possible impact in connection with acts of scientific misconduct are to be addressed by the DFG Commission on the Revision of the Rules of Procedure for Dealing with Scientific Misconduct. The DFG will also be issuing further statements in an effort to contribute to a "discursive and science-based process" in the use of generative models.

For the text of the statement, see the DFG website here

Most Popular Now

Unlocking the 10 Year Health Plan

The government's plan for the NHS is a huge document. Jane Stephenson, chief executive of SPARK TSL, argues the key to unlocking its digital ambitions is to consider what it...

Alcidion Grows Top Talent in the UK, wit…

Alcidion has today announced the addition of three new appointments to their UK-based team, with one internal promotion and two external recruits. Dr Paul Deffley has been announced as the...

AI can Find Cancer Pathologists Miss

Men assessed as healthy after a pathologist analyses their tissue sample may still have an early form of prostate cancer. Using AI, researchers at Uppsala University have been able to...

AI, Full Automation could Expand Artific…

Automated insulin delivery (AID) systems such as the UVA Health-developed artificial pancreas could help more type 1 diabetes patients if the devices become fully automated, according to a new review...

How AI could Speed the Development of RN…

Using artificial intelligence (AI), MIT researchers have come up with a new way to design nanoparticles that can more efficiently deliver RNA vaccines and other types of RNA therapies. After training...

New Training Year Starts at Siemens Heal…

In September, 197 school graduates will start their vocational training or dual studies in Germany at Siemens Healthineers. 117 apprentices and 80 dual students will begin their careers at Siemens...

MIT Researchers Use Generative AI to Des…

With help from artificial intelligence, MIT researchers have designed novel antibiotics that can combat two hard-to-treat infections: drug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae and multi-drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Using generative AI algorithms, the research...

AI Hybrid Strategy Improves Mammogram In…

A hybrid reading strategy for screening mammography, developed by Dutch researchers and deployed retrospectively to more than 40,000 exams, reduced radiologist workload by 38% without changing recall or cancer detection...

Penn Developed AI Tools and Datasets Hel…

Doctors treating kidney disease have long depended on trial-and-error to find the best therapies for individual patients. Now, new artificial intelligence (AI) tools developed by researchers in the Perelman School...

Are You Eligible for a Clinical Trial? C…

A new study in the academic journal Machine Learning: Health discovers that ChatGPT can accelerate patient screening for clinical trials, showing promise in reducing delays and improving trial success rates. Researchers...

New AI Tool Addresses Accuracy and Fairn…

A team of researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai has developed a new method to identify and reduce biases in datasets used to train machine-learning algorithms...

Global Study Reveals How Patients View M…

How physicians feel about artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine has been studied many times. But what do patients think? A team led by researchers at the Technical University of Munich...