Practical guidelines for researchers
Being a researcher entails life-long learning as methods, theories and technologies evolve. With AI as with any technology, cultivating responsible research practices takes work: it involves reflection, self-education, caution, and discussion. Here we spell out some ways towards responsible autonomy of researchers regarding AI.
Reflect
Radboud University champions value-driven AI and expects its researchers to take areflective stance towards digital technologies, including AI. As a researcher, you areexpected to reflect on the ethical, societal and environmental implications of AI. Moreover,you are asked to reflect on the possible implications of AI for the quality of research, forinstance with an eye to the reliability of AI-generated information and the impact of AItechnologies on research skills.
Educate yourself
As with any technology, you need to have a basic level of literacy on AI to make aninformed decision about using or not using AI technologies in any phase of the researchprocess (see also section 3, standard 2). One place to start is with e-learnings forresearchers offered by the university. In addition, you also need to familiarize yourself withdiscipline-relevant expertise on AI. Your research institute or faculty should have relevantexpertise and should be able to point you to domain-specific guidance.
Be cautious
Not all data or information used or produced in scientific research can be shared freely.Information may be privacy-sensitive or protected by copyright or intellectual propertyrights. Furthermore, information may not be suitable for sharing for reasons of knowledgesecurity. Data and information for which any of these considerations apply, should not beuploaded in AI systems, unless the protection of this data and information is fullysafeguarded. More information on privacy, copyright and knowledge security in the contextof research can be found on the website of Radboud University. Moreover, researchers areadvised to consult Radboud University’s AI register, which classifies AI technologies into riskcategories.
Discuss
An open academic culture that fosters research integrity requires room for opendiscussion; researchers must feel free to bring forward any questions and concerns onresearch integrity that they may have. This includes any questions and concerns on the1 In conjunction with the responsibility of researchers, Radboud University also has institutional responsibilities on AI andresearch integrity, following the NCCRI and the AI Act. These responsibilities will be further specified in general universitypolicies.