Follow these requirements and best practices for using artificial intelligence (AI) tools in the creation of web content and publications for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE).
What Is Artificial Intelligence (AI)?
Artificial intelligence (AI) is the ability of a computer to perform tasks most commonly performed by humans including learning and problem solving.
Requirements and Best Practices
As of Feb. 7, 2024, you will need a valid business justification to access OpenAI's ChatGPT tool from your DOE computer.
The U.S. Department of Energy and its national laboratories use AI for research in a number of ways, and requirements for AI use are rapidly evolving. However, there are requirements and considerations that should be followed when using AI for content-related purposes:
- Avoid using generative AI output to create website content unless the origin of the training data is known.
- Human authors must ensure that all content generated with AI assistance meets all federal requirements, including Section 508 and the Plain Writing Act of 2010.
- Have a human in the loop, preferably someone who has knowledge of generative AI, to validate generated output sources and prevent plagiarism and/or copyright issues. ChatGPT and similar tools cannot be held accountable for ethics breaches.
- Do not use verbatim text from a generative AI chatbot—these are not your words.
- AI-generated art should not be used for images or other content on Energy.gov websites, as AI programs use multiple sources to generate art. These can include copyrighted content or other art that EERE does not have rights to use.
- Do not input or disclose confidential information, including nonpublic DOE data, as part of a prompt when using a public generative AI tool, unless you can validate rights to use it in this way from the originator. Refer to the most recent versions of DOE information security policies for specific guidance. Seek advice from your organization’s legal department.
- Review output produced from generative AI tools to ensure that any issues surrounding confidentiality are identified and addressed.
- Continue to follow existing cybersecurity and privacy procedures around the use of generative AI programs.
ChatGPT and similar programs should be used as a tool to help with writing and generating ideas, not as a replacement or substitute for that work.
Publication Guidance
For publications, additional rules and guidance should be followed:
- Citations recommended by any generative AI chatbot must be verified with the original literature because chatbots, including ChatGPT, are known to generate citations that are inaccurate and/or don't exist.
- Do not include ChatGPT or any other AI-based chatbot as an author or co-author.
- Several publishing houses and independent organizations have developed policies on the use of generative AI chatbots and similar tools. EERE staff must follow these guidelines, where they exist, when submitting a manuscript to these publishers. It is your (authors and co-authors) responsibility to inquire and adhere to publishers' guidelines: