FOI2024/00108: Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence and/ or Large Language Models (LLMs)
Case reference FOI2024/00108
Published 3 June 2024
Request
Request Received: 8 February 2024
This FOI request relates to the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) and/ or Large Language Models (LLMs) against people's data as part of research funded by UKRI, including its seven Research Councils, Innovate UK and Research England.
• The request covers 1st January 2020 to the current date.
• It includes grants that have been awarded and proposals approved for award which are not yet public or have yet to have contracts completed - collectively referred to as 'awards'/ 'funded research' herein.
• 'People's data' herein encompasses participant data gathered as part of the funded research, secondary data analysis involving human participants' data, and data available online about individuals - for example, via social media platforms and public records that are visible online.
• 'Assessment process' refers to the funder's process of assessing a submitted proposal for funding.
Answers should be provided (i) at UKRI level, and (ii) broken down by Research Council - i.e. - AHRC, BBSRC, ESRC, EPSRC, Innovate UK, MRC, NERC, Research England, STFC.
1) How many awards include plans to use GenAI/ LLMs against people's data?
2) Which UK universities hold awards as the lead institution on funded research involving the use of GenAI/ LLMs against people's data?
3) What methodological approaches have been described to the use of GenAI/ LLMs against people's data as part of funded research? - for example, generating new data from existing participant data, writing reports, analysis of qualitative data.
Data management plans
4) For awards that document the planned use of GenAI/ LLMs against people's data:
a) What percentage of awards reflect this use in the associated data management plan?
b) Is the data management plan explicitly reviewed in relation to the use of GenAI/ LLMs against people's data as part of the assessment process? If so, please provide a high-level summary of this review process.
c) If data management plans are not explicitly reviewed in relation to the use of GenAI/ LLMs against people's data, what plans exist to introduce this review process in future?
Ethics and responsible research and innovation (Ethics & RRI)
5) For awards that document the planned use of GenAI/ LLMs against people's data:
a) What percentage of awards consider Ethics and RRI in relation to this use within the application?
b) Are Ethics and RRI explicitly reviewed in relation to the use of GenAI/ LLMs against people's data as part of the assessment process? If so, please provide a high-level summary of this review process.
c) If Ethics and RRI are not explicitly reviewed in relation to the use of GenAI/ LLMs against people's data, what plans exist to introduce this review process in future?
Response
Response Sent: 7 March 2024
Full details of this response are provided in the attached document.
Documents
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