Guidelines for Generative AI
Guidelines for Generative AI
In order to support the responsible use of generative AI for all NWO institutes and the NWO-I office, NWO-I published AI guidelines in August 2025. These are not strict rules, but points for consideration for the thoughtful and responsible use of generative AI. The guidelines can be downloaded (pdf) at the bottom of this page.
An interactive webinar will be held on Wednesday 17 September 2025 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. to accompany the publication of the guidelines. You can now register for this online event.
Generative AI: a powerful tool...
Generative AI (the form of AI that can generate text, images, code, etc. based on user input) has taken the world by storm. Its ability to take over many simple (or less simple!) tasks has made it very popular with a wide audience.
Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT can summarise and translate documents, help brainstorm ideas, write texts and even explain complex topics. In science, generative AI models can be used for literature research, programming assistance or drafting scientific texts....
... but there are concerns
However, the quick rise of generative AI has also led to some valid concerns about its use. Many tools lack transparency about the data they're trained on, which raises concerns about bias in their responses. Plus, generative AI doesn't take privacy and sensitive data into account, as some tools can store and use all the data you put in to improve the tool itself.
In other words, text you submit for translating, for example, could later influence someone else's translation. Generative AI is also not very sustainable: it consumes alarming amounts of water and electricity and produces up to 15 times more CO(2) than a conventional search query.
However, by completely avoiding generative AI and prohibiting its use, we risk missing out on its enormous potential. Instead, thoughtful and responsible use is crucial. To support this, NWO-I has published guidelines. The guidelines are reviewed every six months and updated as necessary.
Questions and contact
Do you have questions about the AI guidelines? Please contact the staff of the Data Competence Centre at nwo-i-dcc@nwo-i.nl.