AI use policy and resources for instructors [August 25, 2026]

Dear colleagues,

Earlier today, President Kornbluth announced the release of the final report of the Ad Hoc Committee on AI Use in Teaching, Learning, and Research Training. To produce the report, the committee consulted extensively with community members and experts, and deliberated carefully. I encourage you to read it in full.

Section 3.1.8 of the report regards AI use policy for classes. The committee recommends that:

  • Every class should have a clear and prominently posted policy on the use of generative AI;

  • Instructors use an easily understandable format to communicate what is and is not permitted; and

  • AI policies should include a rationale.

For fall 2026, as in previous years, there are no Institute-wide requirements for setting policies on AI use in classes, though many classes at MIT are already taught with AI policies that fulfill some or all of these recommendations. To facilitate more widespread adoption, the committee also recommends that MIT develop a clear and consistent menu of guidelines. 

As a first step in this direction, the committee offers a Four-Option Menu of Acceptable AI Use Policies that you can use for your fall classes, should you wish. You can also find this menu in Appendix B of the report.

You may also wish to try an experimental tool developed by committee co-chair Eric Klopfer that is designed to assist instructors in determining an AI use policy appropriate for each assignment in a class. This tool can itself be run in both AI-free and AI-assisted modes.

The committee emphasizes how important it is that our students feel sure about when, where, and why AI is prohibited, allowed, or required. Please consider using these new resources to ensure that your students have clarity on appropriate AI use in your classes this fall. Committee co-chairs Eric Klopfer and Sam Madden, together with Teaching and Learning Lab director Janet Rankin, will facilitate discussion sessions on August 31 and September 2 that you may wish to attend, on developing class-specific AI use policies.

The committee will present its report at the September 16 Institute Faculty Meeting, and we will schedule fall semester forums for discussion and sharing information about resources – further details will be forthcoming. You can also send questions or feedback by writing to ai-teachingandlearning@mit.edu.

My sincere thanks to all members of the committee, and to all of you for your work in educating our students.

Sincerely,

Roger Levy
Chair of the Faculty