NASA Research Opportunities (NSPIRES) AI policy

For applicants

• SMD allows generative AI tools (and professional writers) in preparing proposals, but you must acknowledge any content that is not the proposal team's own creative work.[1]
• If you use generative AI to prepare an SMD proposal or progress report, cite it in the references section.[2]
• The citation must give the program name, its version number, the date and time you used it to generate proposal text, and a statement of how you used it.[2]
• You are responsible for the accuracy and authenticity of the proposal, including AI-assisted content.[2]
• Be careful what you put into an AI prompt. It will often be stored and may be used by others, and it may aid a potential competitor. Material covered by ITAR or EAR must not be uploaded to a website accessible to non-US persons.[2]

Sources

1. [1]

   ROSES-2025 Summary of Solicitation (as amended June 15, 2026), Section I(c)(ii)

   NASA Science Mission Directorate, June 15, 2026

   “SMD does not prohibit the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, such as ChatGPT, or professional human writers. However, proposers and grantees must acknowledge content that is not the creative product of the proposal team.”

2. [2]

   ROSES Frequently Asked Questions, Q32: Does SMD have any rules about the use of LLMs like ChatGPT?

   NASA Science Mission Directorate

   “If Generative SI is used in the preparation of SMD proposals or progress reporting to NASA, then that use shall be cited in the references section.”

   “The citation shall include (1) the name of the program used, (2) the version number of the Generative SI used, (3) the date and time the Generative SI was used to generate proposal text, and (4) a statement on how the Generative SI was used.”

   “NASA holds proposers and award recipients responsible for the accuracy and authenticity of their proposal submission and award reports, including content developed with the assistance of Generative SI tools or professional human writers.”

   “Proposers should consider carefully any information used to prompt a Generative SI keeping in mind that this information may aid a potential competitor.”

   “Proposal material that is subject to the restrictions of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) or Export Administration Regulations (EAR) must not be uploaded to a website accessible to non-US persons.”

   “Additionally, SMD notes that anything given to a Generative SI tool as a prompt will often be stored and may be used by others who use that Generative SI system in the future.”