Frequently Asked Questions about the GenAI policy

This FAQ addresses questions about the Policy on the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence for NLnet-funded projects. They've been grouped under headers for quick reference.

Topics

• Applications
• Project development
• Creation of AI-related projects

FAQs

Applications

• I've written a proposal with the aid of GenAI before the new policy came into force on October 20, 2026. Do I need to write a new proposal without GenAI?

  No. Use of GenAI in applications submitted before October 21, 2026, is allowed. No need to resubmit.

• I have proposed a plan which contains work methods that are not in accordance with policy 2.0. I submitted before October 21, 2026, do I need to resubmit?

  Yes. Applications that propose forms of project development which are not in accordance with GenAI policy 2.0, need to be rewritten to fit the policy.

• How do I resubmit my proposal?

  Simply fill out the application form again. Mention the fact it is a resubmission in the application and provide the project-ID of the old application. (This makes it easier for us to deduplicate.)

• The policy requires to disclose pre-existing LLM-generated code in my codebase. How do I disclose that in the application form?

  The application form has a section AI disclosure at the bottom. There you can provide a high-level overview of how GenAI was used in your project. Just write a broad, general description of how GenAI was used.

• Will my proposal be disqualified if my codebase contains pre-existing LLM-generated code?

  No. However, you do need to disclose pre-existing LLM-generated code in the application form. There is a AI disclosure section in the form.

• I worry that you'll think I wrote my application with AI because I use similar style, like using bullet points.

  Don't worry too much; LLMs generating text as bullet points lists is a result of how commonly this type of formatting occurs in training materials.

Project development

• AI coding assistants write most of the code and/or documentation, is this compliant with the GenAI policy?

  No. Use of AI is only allowed in a read-only manner. The policy requires you to write your own code and documentation.

• I am using Claude to code but the idea, concept, and design and everything about the project except the code is from me. Does that make my project unfundable?

  Yes. It is not allowed to use GenAI for producing artefacts of any kind, including code, design, and documentation. You can only use GenAI in a read-only manner.

Creation of AI-related projects

• Restack excludes AI-related projects. Where is the line for infrastructure that AI systems can consume but that contains no AI itself?

  (question continues:)For example, would a deterministic library that records content-addressed source references (document, chunk, version, hash) and verifies that a cited passage exists and matches its hash be in scope, if any AI component using it stays outside the funded work?
  Answer: If it is also consumable and useful outside of the AI ecosystems, then it would likely be considered.

• My project has an optional local AI, off by default, only for searching documents. Is it in scope for Restack if the grant does not fund the AI part?

  It would likely be in scope.

• My project has an optional local AI, off by default, only for searching documents. Is it in scope for Restack if the grant does not fund the AI part?

  It would likely be in scope.