Summary of the use of AI in communication products and services 

The Communications department shares the outcomes and benefits of EMBL’s innovative research and training programmes, cutting-edge science and technology, and activities for the benefit of Europe, to many audiences. 

In doing so it produces texts, images, and videos for use on public-facing channels including the website, social media, and print materials. We also make available images, videos and other resources to our community, media, and the public under a Creative Commons License. 

Artificial intelligence (AI) is developing rapidly, with generative AI tools available for multimedia content production. Embracing EMBL’s commitment to transparency, scientific integrity, and excellence, the following summarises our approach to using AI in the communications process and outputs made available through EMBL channels. 

We will be transparent about how generative AI products are used to support communications efforts at EMBL, including acknowledging the use of  generative AI tools if appropriate. We take into account data protection and confidentiality when using AI tools to support communications efforts at EMBL.

All content generated by AI will be reviewed to ensure it aligns with our facts, is free from bias, maintains the integrity of our scientific mission, and adheres to our style guidelines.

The EMBL Communications department uses AI technologies to: 

• Aid brainstorming and idea generation for communications outputs 
• Create elements of written and visual content to complement, augment and supplement human generated content which is then integrated and rigorously checked by a communications professional
• Aid proofreading, transcription and translation 

We do NOT use AI technologies to: 

• Create text or visual content that is published without thorough fact-checking and further processing by a human 
• Change the appearance or distort the meaning of visual content

AI technology and legislation are rapidly changing, and we may adapt the way we use AI in our work. We will update this page to reflect such changes. 

In case of questions about the use of AI in our content, please contact: comms@embl.org and comms@ebi.ac.uk.