Do you know which AI tools you're actually allowed to use?
Which tools you can use, what your funder requires, and where to find actual guidance
Hello there,
I’ve been having the same conversation with researchers across Europe for months now. It usually starts with: “Can I actually use ChatGPT for my grant proposal?” or “Is Claude allowed for literature reviews at my university?”
The answer is frustratingly complex: it depends on your institution, your funder, and sometimes even which department you’re in. One university bans commercial AI tools entirely whilst another actively encourages them. The ERC has guidelines, but they’re different from what your national funding agency requires.
Here’s what I keep seeing: Brilliant researchers either playing it overly safe (avoiding helpful tools entirely) or unknowingly crossing policy boundaries they didn’t know existed. Both scenarios slow down good science.
So I built something to help cut through this confusion: a European AI Policy Database that actually answers the questions you’re asking.
What you’ll find inside:
- Direct links to AI policies from major European universities and research institutes
- Funding agency positions on generative AI (ERC, Horizon Europe, national funders)
- Specific guidance on what requires disclosure vs. approval
- Practical boundaries for different research activities
The European research landscape is shifting rapidly on this. Some institutions have comprehensive frameworks in place, others are still drafting theirs. If you’re working across multiple countries or with several funding sources, you might be navigating completely different rule sets for the same project.
This database helps you find what specifically applies to your situation rather than guessing or avoiding AI tools altogether out of caution.
→ Explore the AI Policy Database here
And if you want to go deeper…
I’m running a hands-on workshop on 11 November 2025 where we’ll work through exactly how to use AI tools compliantly and effectively in your research workflow. Not theoretical discussions—actual implementation strategies you can use the next day.
→ Join the workshop (11 November)
Quick question for you: What’s been your biggest challenge navigating AI policies at your institution? I’m curious whether it’s finding the policies in the first place, interpreting what they mean, or something else entirely. Hit reply and let me know—I read every response.
Navigating this alongside you,
Dr. Pranoti Kshirsagar
Founder, The Science Talk
PS: If your institution or funder isn’t in the database yet, reply with their name and I’ll make sure they’re added.
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