Considerations for Integrating Generative AI Usage in the Futures of Open Education

Abstract

This resource is intended to provide support for those creating open education materials in an age with Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI). As GenAI becomes more pervasive in our lives, there are questions about the ethics of the use of GenAI in the open education space, how it interacts with existing licensing frameworks, and its legal status within the law with respect to ownership of Intellectual Property (IP), such as Open Education Resources (OER).

This resource was developed to support decision-making by open education practitioners on how to use Generative AI in OER creation. It has likewise been informed by an environmental scan that researched the intersection of Intellectual Property law and Generative AI in legal systems with a specific focus on Canada. It was likewise informed by a survey of open education practitioners in Ontario to hear about their experiences and concerns.

These recommendations serve to act as considerations for anyone interested in using generative AI in their OER creation or adaption. They are by no means prescriptive. Similarly, they are by no means exhaustive. This is a space that is rapidly evolving.