• Try “portfolio”, “ink”, “branding” or a code like “PRS 101”.

ECT 102Emerging Creative Technologies

Using AI Responsibly in Creative Work

Make informed decisions about generative AI in your practice: how the tools work, the unsettled copyright picture in Canada and elsewhere, disclosure, client consent and a personal AI policy.

In developmentDraft content

About this course

Generative AI tools are everywhere in creative software, and the questions they raise are not settled. This course explains in plain language how generative tools produce outputs and where they fall short, and treats them as tools that sit alongside skill rather than replace it. It then looks at rights: the Copyright Act (Canada) as the framework, the federal government's consultation on copyright in the age of generative AI showing that policy is still being worked out, and the U.S. Copyright Office's reports as an international comparison. You will learn to read tool terms of service, disclose AI use to clients and audiences, get client consent, follow competition and platform rules, and respect other artists' styles and likenesses. You will finish by writing your own AI use policy.

Who it’s for: Any artist, designer or creative professional deciding whether and how to use AI tools, including those who choose not to. No technical background needed.

You will be able to

  • Explain in plain language how generative AI tools produce outputs and their main limitations.
  • Summarize the main open copyright questions about AI in Canada, with an international comparison.
  • Review a tool's terms of service for ownership, licensing of outputs and use of your uploads.
  • Write disclosure language for clients and audiences and a client consent clause to review with a professional.
  • Write a personal AI use policy for your practice.

Studio project

A published personal AI use policy with disclosure wording, a terms-of-service review and three scenario analyses.

To complete this course

  • Complete every required lesson.
  • Have the assignment “Personal AI use policy and case analysis” accepted by an instructor.
  • Records of completion are issued only for courses whose content has passed instructor review.

Syllabus

Working titles: they may change as the course is written.

  1. Module 1: How generative tools work

    Understanding the tools before deciding how to use them.

    1. 1.1What generative AI does, in plain languageReading · 30 min
    2. 1.2Where AI fits (and doesn't) in a creative practiceReading · 30 min

  2. Module 2: Rights and the law

    An unsettled area, explained carefully.

    1. 2.1Copyright basics in CanadaReading · 35 min
    2. 2.2Canadian policy in progressReading · 25 min
    3. 2.3International comparisonsReading · 25 min
    4. 2.4Reading a tool's terms of serviceExercise · 35 min

  3. Module 3: Disclosure and consent

    Being honest with the people you work for and with.

    1. 3.1Disclosure to clients and audiencesReading · 30 min
    2. 3.2Client consent and agreementsReading · 30 min
    3. 3.3Competitions, galleries and platform rulesReading · 20 min

  4. Module 4: Your AI policy

    Turning principles into a written practice.

    1. 4.1Other artists' styles and people's likenessesReading · 30 min
    2. 4.2Studio: writing a personal AI use policyStudio · 45 min

Educational information about Canadian and international copyright and AI policy, which is still developing; not legal advice. For decisions about your work or contracts, consult a qualified professional.

Sources

Author: Ricketts University curriculum team (draft for founder review) · Not yet reviewed

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