/Live Your Dream Awards/ – An Update on Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use
When generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools first became widely available, Soroptimist took a cautious approach, prohibiting AI use entirely in the Soroptimist Live Your Dream: Education and Training Awards for Women® application and reference forms. As the technology has evolved and we've heard directly from applicants and club chairs, it's become clear that a more nuanced approach is needed.
What We Learned
Findings from a survey of Live Your Dream Awards online applicants and club chairs, paired with research into how other U.S. scholarship programs handle AI, point to the same conclusion—the field is moving away from total prohibition and toward guided use.
Applicants reported using AI primarily as a support tool—for grammar and spelling assistance, tone refinement, and clarification of application instructions. It was especially helpful for applicants whose first language is not English.
Reviewers were more divided. About a third saw AI use as a real problem; a third weren't sure; and a third didn't see it as an issue at all. When reviewers flagged concerns, it was often about applications that didn't sound like the applicant's own voice, or careless mistakes such as unfilled placeholder text.
Across the board, club chairs asked for the same thing—clear guidance on what's acceptable and a defined process for when AI use is suspected.
What’s Changing
Rather than asking applicants to certify they used no AI at all, we have updated the Live Your Dream Awards application language to:
I certify that AI tools may have supported my writing, but my experiences, goals and voice are entirely my own.
This new language:
Recognizes the role of AI as a tool for grammar, organization and clarity
Reaffirms that the applicant's experiences, goals and voice must remain entirely their own– and that AI should not replace the applicant’s own voice or story
Points applicants to new AI usage guidance before and during the writing process
Every application will still be reviewed personally by Soroptimist members — never by AI. To help identify appropriate and inappropriate usage of AI in applications, we have created a new resource for applicants and for reviewers.
Please review them here:
Updates to the Live Your Dream Awards Reference Form
For consistency, we have also updated the certification language on the reference form. It has been updated to the following:
By submitting this recommendation form, I certify that AI tools may have supported my writing, but my responses and thoughts are entirely my own. I confirm that I am not related to the applicant by blood or marriage.
These updates reflect Soroptimist's commitment to keeping the Live Your Dream Awards program fair, accessible and grounded in the authentic stories of the women it serves.
By shifting from prohibition to a framework that acknowledges AI as a helpful tool while preserving every applicant’s authentic voice, we hope to encourage responsible use. AI may support the application process, but it should never replace the applicant’s own voice or story.
Questions? Please email program@soroptimist.org.
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