M&G NSW Statement of Intent on the use of Artificial Intelligence
The arts are a vital component of cultural and economic life. Museums & Galleries of NSW is committed to fostering an ecosystem where technology serves to support artists and increase the diversity of creative expression, rather than diminishing it. We support initiatives that educate the community on ethical use of Artificial Intelligence.
While we recognise the operational advantages that Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may offer, particularly for under-resourced organisations, we do so in the context of highlighting its usage as coming with specific ethical and environmental concerns. This is particularly the case for its use within the cultural sector.
We believe that true artistic creation stems from human experience, emotion and intellect. AI-generated outputs that lack significant, independent human input do not possess the same artistic or commercial value as human-created work. While AI tools may be used to assist in the creative process, we affirm that the foundation of the arts lies in original work created by human beings. This also extends to include the work of academics, educators, historians, curators, writers and tour guides who all engage in creative interpretation and whose work would suffer if reliant on AI for research and/or story development. We also believe that the telling and interpretation of local histories, including interpretation of collection objects, can only be delivered through primary resources or human experience. We also affirm that curation, storytelling and historical interpretation in museum contexts are all creative acts which can be negatively impacted by an absence of human insight.
M&G NSW therefore offers our position on the use of Artificial Intelligence internally and for the sector we work with to use this to inform their own use of Artificial Intelligence:
- M&G NSW supports the rights and careers of artists and cultural workers and will not use AI to replace the employment or contracting of humans
- M&G NSW never uses AI to replace human decision making
- AI must never be used in ways that infringe copyright, moral rights, or the cultural and intellectual property rights of artists, creators or First Nations peoples
- M&G NSW never uses AI in any work relating to First Nations peoples, including interpreting and developing content relating to these communities or data management
- M&G NSW never uses AI to process artists work or images or objects from public collections
- M&G NSW never uses AI to write collection object stories or artist interpretation
- M&G NSW never uses AI to develop content for sector development workshops
- M&G NSW never uses AI to process confidential or sensitive information. This includes grant applications, personal data, financial information, strategic plans
- M&G NSW ensures that when using AI to assist in the development of documents, that any resultant document or policy is thoroughly redeveloped to ensure relevance to the organisation
- AI should only be used when it is the most appropriate solution and delivers clear benefits over existing alternatives
- M&G NSW continues to discuss the benefits and consequences on the use of AI
This Statement, along with other internal guidelines, is included in the organisations Artificial Intelligence Policy and Guidelines. A copy can be made available upon request.