AI policy

Art UK Public Policy on AI usage

Last updated: 17th February 2025

Introduction

In a world of rapid technological change, particularly in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Art UK recognises that it will be presented with many opportunities to utilise these new technologies for the benefit of its audiences, participating collections and staff.

This policy outlines for our community of users and all our stakeholders our approach to using AI tools within the Art UK platforms and beyond. While we acknowledge the complexities and evolving nature of AI technologies, we are dedicated to navigating these challenges with care and integrity, ensuring that our actions reflect our core values as fully as possible within the scope of our resources and capabilities. Our core values mean we are committed to transparency, ethical practices and the preservation of creative integrity.

Transparency in AI usage

We pledge to be transparent in our use of AI across the organisation. AI tools may be employed to enhance certain operational aspects, such as improving search functionality, data enhancement and user experiences. However, we are committed to clearly communicating when and where AI is used, ensuring stakeholders are fully aware of its scope and limitations.

Manual creation of content

Our story content and learning resources will be created by real people – our team and commissioned writers, preserving the value of human creativity and authenticity. We will not use AI-generated content for these resources, upholding the integrity of human-driven storytelling and education.

Writing competitions and commissioned work: AI disclosure

To uphold originality, all participants in writing competitions and commissioned writers must agree that their submissions are not AI-generated, ensuring that our content is authentically created by humans.

Commitment to ethical AI

We strive to align our AI usage with our ethical standards, acknowledging both the potential benefits and challenges. We aim to avoid reinforcing historical injustices associated with the UK's national collection and to foster a more inclusive representation of cultural heritage.

The shared responsibility for collection data

Art UK regularly receives data and content from a wide array of participating collections. This data, such as images, metadata and descriptive information, may not always come with a full disclosure of whether AI tools have been used during its creation or management. While we encourage all participating collections to follow ethical practices, including transparency in their use of AI, we understand that this may not always be explicit or verifiable at the point of data transfer.

Upon receiving data, we may employ AI tools for various enhancements while adhering to strict ethical guidelines.

  • Data cleaning and quality enhancement: AI tools may be used to help surface and correct inconsistencies, errors, or gaps in incoming data. This could involve improving metadata, identifying duplicate records, or flagging missing information. These AI-driven processes are aimed at improving the overall quality and reliability of the data, but human oversight will always be applied to review these processes.
  • Search optimisation: We may deploy AI tools to enhance search functionality, enabling users to find artworks and collections more easily through improved algorithms. AI may be used to classify artworks or improve keyword matching, but we will ensure that such processes are designed to mitigate bias and reflect a broad, inclusive range of cultural perspectives. For example, care will be taken to avoid reinforcing any existing discrimination or injustices in how artists or collections are represented and surfaced in search results.
  • Image processing and enhancement: AI tools may also be used in the processing of images or to improve image quality. This could involve surfacing low-quality or blurry images or automating background removal such as colour bars. However, these enhancements will be limited to technical improvements to the quality of our images, and the creative integrity of the artwork will remain intact. Any such alterations will be performed in line with ethical standards to avoid altering the original artistic intent or misrepresenting the artwork.

Copyright and artwork integrity

Art UK is committed to respecting the rights of copyright holders and ensuring that all artwork images are handled with the utmost responsibility and in compliance with copyright laws and agreements. We recognise the importance of safeguarding the intellectual property of artists, collections, and copyright holders.

Our commitment is to preserve the authenticity of the artwork, ensuring that no enhancements misrepresent the artist's original intent or visually alter the work in any way.

Data protection and AI

Art UK is committed to upholding the highest standards of data protection in accordance with applicable laws, including GDPR, and internal ethical guidelines.

Any third-party AI tools or suppliers used by Art UK will be required to comply with our data protection standards, ensuring that data is processed responsibly, lawfully and securely.

Environmental sustainability

Recognising the potentially significant environmental footprint of AI, we will aim to use AI efficiently and avoid unnecessary computational waste. We will give preference to AI providers with strong environmental credentials and sustainable practices.

Use of AI in recruitment

We are committed to using AI in recruitment processes responsibly and fairly. Candidates will be informed if AI tools are being used in the recruitment process, and final hiring decisions will always be made by human recruiters to ensure a holistic evaluation of candidates.

Encouraging feedback and open dialogue

We welcome and encourage feedback and inquiries regarding our AI usage policy. We value the perspectives and concerns of our community and are dedicated to fostering open dialogue and collaboration in shaping our AI practices.

This policy will be reviewed annually to ensure its effectiveness and relevance to evolving technologies, regulations, and organisational needs. Any necessary revisions will be communicated accordingly.