Summary
NIH does not consider applications, or application sections, substantially developed by AI to be applicants’ original ideas. Limited AI assistance may be appropriate, but post-award findings can lead to research-misconduct referral and enforcement. The policy also limits a principal investigator’s annual applications to six, except T activity codes and R13 conference grants, for receipt dates beginning September 25, 2025.
Healthcare Implications
Investigators and research offices should retain substantive responsibility for original grant ideas and application text and assess AI assistance against NIH’s substantial-development restriction. They should also track the annual application limit and applicable exceptions; substantial AI development can create award and research-integrity risks.