09 Oct Generative AI Ethical Use Guidelines
Author/
Publication: Graphic Artists Guild Advocacy
Mission
The purpose of the Graphic Artists Guild is to promote and protect the social, economic and professional interests of its members.
We are committed to welcoming, serving and improving conditions for graphic artists at all skill levels while raising standards for the entire industry. In addition to creative professionals, our members include educators, intellectual property lawyers, artist representatives, and others in related and supporting industries.
Objective
Create an official set of guidelines for graphic artists to reference when using generative AI in their creative work, when incorporating into their operational practice, or when advocating for its ethical use when working with companies and clients. In order to provide standards, support, and a guiding voice as the leader for design ethics in the industry.
Intention
We intend to empower graphic artists to confidently and ethically navigate the use of generative AI by providing clear, practical guidelines rooted in the Graphic Artists Guild’s mission to support creative professionals. These guidelines aim to protect creative integrity, promote equitable industry standards, and ensure that AI tools are used in ways that uphold accessibility, inclusion, and the long-term sustainability of creative careers.
These are the lenses through which we view the ethical use of AI for the benefit of the creative industries and to reduce unintended harm:
Ethical Focus
Use GenAI in ways the don’t infringe upon creators’ and individuals’ rights and IP.
Inclusivity Focus
Consider how GenAI reinforces or disrupts systems of inclusion.
Human Focus
Ensure GenAI outputs do not result in individual or societal harm.
Economic Empowerment + Agency Focus
Ensure that creators receive credit compensation and consent for the use of their work.
Ethical Focus
Equity
- Use GenAI platforms that respect creator rights (e.g., through licensing, fair terms, and opt-in mechanisms).
- Only upload content you have rights to; avoid works with unclear or unapproved sources.
- Respect and recognize artist contributions—seek or verify consent for inclusion in AI training.
Privacy
- Avoid using personal, sensitive, or unauthorized content in GenAI tools.
- Get consent from all contributors before submitting content for training or generation.
- Support measures to increase the transparency in datasets on the part of GenAI platforms.
Sustainability
- Prioritize platforms that use ethically sourced training data (e.g., licensed or public domain).
- Do not use GenAI to mimic or generate content that exploits an artist’s style or likeness.
- Support fair practices that protect creators from misappropriation or dilution of their work.
- Be conscious of negative environmental impacts from GenAI overuse.
- Be intentional about usage. Use to supplement process and not as a replacement for creative process
Transparency
- Clearly label any AI-generated or AI-assisted content.
- Inform clients if generative AI is used in any part of your creative process.
- Credit source materials used in AI training, and disclose AI involvement when registering works.
- Make sure that AI sources (cites?) its sources. Fact check.
Inclusivity Focus
Team Definition
- Acknowledge how the cultural and socioeconomic perspectives of decision-makers shape GenAI use and output.
- Be mindful when working on culturally representative projects; ensure context-appropriate participation.
Bias
- Identify both intentional and systemic biases in datasets or team structures.
- Audit GenAI outputs for assumptions that reflect narrow definitions of identity or experience.
Empathy
- Interrogate your own and your team’s assumptions before using GenAI for representation.
- Question whether AI-generated content erases lived experiences or voices.
Co-Creation
- Include broader perspectives and invite collaboration—especially for culturally specific content.
- Prioritize human voices and processes alongside automated tools.
Human Focus
Influence
- Be aware of whose perspectives are included in AI training, especially regarding underrepresented groups.
- Use GenAI tools that empower, not marginalize, people with disabilities or divergent needs.
Mental Health
- Avoid outputs that may trigger or manipulate emotional responses without care.
- Ensure ethical safeguards are in place to reduce harm caused by bias or misrepresentation.
Economic Empowerment + Agency Focus
Control
- Collective ethical licensing schemes to compensate participating artists for the use of their works in text and data mining.
- Collectively licensing of works for ai training/ work that ASCRL is doing- https://ascrl.org/
- Protect your work from scraping/ work that Ben Zhao at University of Chicago is doing- https://glaze.cs.uchicago.edu/what-is-glaze.html
- Supporting human-centricity of copyright.
Policy & Legislation
- Support measures to increase the transparency in datasets on the part of GenAI platforms.
- Strengthening copyright laws and protections/ Work that The Guild is doing in partnership with other associations such as COVA and the Copyrights Alliance
- Getting involved in collective action in general. Joining the fight, staying informed, bolstering the community support, because collective action always works.
- Working with Congress on legislative solutions to protect artists
- Engagement with the Copyright Office on rulemaking regarding the registration of AI generated works
- Registering copyrights which protects artists in the cases of class action and other lawsuits against AI scraping.