diff --git a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE/pull_request_template.md b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE/pull_request_template.md
index 2ef0b4a..bec6596 100644
--- a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE/pull_request_template.md
+++ b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE/pull_request_template.md
@@ -1,11 +1,18 @@
-### AI assistance (if any):
-- List tools here and files touched by them
+### Description
+<!-- What problem is this PR solving? -->
+
+### Alternatives Considered (Optional)
+<!-- What alternatives did you consider? Why did you choose this approach? -->
+
+### AI assistance (if any)
+<!-- Required if AI assistance was used to write or modify code in this PR. -->
+<!-- List tools here -->
 
 ### Authorship & Understanding
 
-- [ ] I wrote or heavily modified this code myself
+- [ ] I wrote or heavily modified this code myself. If I didn't, I gave proper attribution to AI assistance above.
 - [ ] I understand how it works end-to-end
 - [ ] I can maintain this code in the future
 - [ ] No undisclosed AI-generated code was used
-- [ ] If AI assistance was used, it is documented below
+- [ ] If AI assistance was used, it is documented above
 
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index eebce0c..9ac45d3 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -78,8 +78,9 @@ act -W .github/workflows/release.yml --input_type bump=minor
 
  ## Authorship Policy
 
-All code in this repository is written and reviewed by humans. AI-generated code (e.g., Copilot, ChatGPT,
-Claude, etc.) is not permitted unless explicitly disclosed and approved.
+All code in this repository is written and reviewed by humans, or AI-generated where explicitly disclosed.
+AI-generated code (e.g., Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude, etc.) is permitted only when explicitly disclosed and
+approved. For example: disclosing the use of AI-generated code in a PR description.
 
 Submissions must certify that the contributor understands and can maintain the code they submit.