The Commission has published an update of the ERA Living Guidelines on the responsible use of Generative AI in research - a set of recommendations offering simple and operational guidance to the research community to foster the adoption and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (AI).
This is the most comprehensive update since the first version of the guidelines. The Living Guidelines have been refined to address the rapid advancements in generative AI and now include guidance on agentic AI, as well as more detailed guidance regarding AI in peer review and proposal evaluation.
With agentic AI, tools are becoming more autonomous and capable of handling increasingly complex tasks, making questions of oversight, accountability and reliability all the more important. In the context of using AI to evaluate funding proposals, the previous guidance has been clarified and expanded in response to the needs of the scientific community.
The simple and practical approach of the Guidelines is maintained and reinforced with a revised structure. Research integrity principles, such as accountability, transparency and responsibility, are still the main reference and are translated into practical guidance to address the use of generative AI.
Background
The Guidelines were first published in 2024. Since then, they have undergone several revisions, the previous one in May 2026.
This work is developed with the input and collaboration of countries and stakeholders across the European Research Area (ERA). Its inclusive approach remains central to the process, supported by an open feedback process for ongoing contributions and suggestions to the Guidelines.