Generative AI for NorQuest learners

Ethical considerations for using generative AI

Environmental Impact

Using, building, and training generative AI tools requires a very large amount of energy resources, and is a significant contributor to carbon emissions outputs. The buildings that house the servers running these tools also consume a lot of water to help keep them cool.

Researchers and companies are exploring ways to make generative AI more sustainable, but it is still important to consider whether your use of AI is worth the environmental impact and to use generative AI tools as efficiently as you can.

(text above is from the University of Alberta's Generative AI guide) 

Copyright & Intellectual Property

There are several copyright issues relevant to the development and use of generative AI tools. How the training data for the AI tool is gathered, whether it includes copyright-protected material, and whether permission or a licence from the rights holder has been acquired, or needs to be acquired, are all important considerations. Using substantial portions of copyright-protected works as inputs or as certain types of outputs with AI tools may also have copyright implications. As of July 2025, there is no legal framework for copyright protection of AI-generated outputs in Canada and such outputs can be conflicting with other copyrights and various other types licenses. The legal liability for such conficts can become an issue for both developers and users of generative AI tools.

The Government of Canada is exploring these issues through its Consultation on Copyright in the Age of Generative Artificial Intelligence and the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act. 

(text above is adapted from the University of Alberta's Generative AI guide) 

Data Privacy

For most generative AI tools, the company will keep everything you upload. You should never upload private or sensitive information to a generative AI tool - this is like leaving your open wallet with all your IDs and valuables in a public place. 

Because the company will keep everything you share, you need to be careful not to upload: 

• Personal information about yourself
• Your work, including your assignments
• Your classmates' work, including group assignments
• Copyrighted works, including anything from your instructor or scholarly articles

Bias & Discrimination

Generative AI is made by humans and all humans have biases. Since generative AI is trained from biased data, it produces biased responses. 

These biases can only be challenged when someone adds new information. It is important to always check information from generative AI tools carefully. 

Marr, Bernard. (2024, Sep. 17). Unveiling AI bias: Real-world examples [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/P8Znv5kV_bs?si=Z2qDKsXqaxkrY0xY

Impact on Indigenous Communities 

Generative AI can have a negative impact on Indigenous communities, including misrepresentation of cultural practices, misappropriation of traditional or sacred imagery, and cultural appropriate and copyright infringement.