AI-Gen Images: The Forbidden Fruit?

Mark Gash looks at the legal and moral implications of AI art in e-learning

If you’re a regular Dirtyword reader, you’ll surely have noticed all of the cool artwork that accompanies our articles and adorns our covers each month. When we exhibited at Learning Technologies in London, we had so many people telling us they loved the look of the magazine and asking us who does the artwork. We’ve always been very honest, and don’t shy away from the fact that a big chunk of our images are generative AI, albeit with a hefty helping of Photoshop editing, splicing and re-drawing on-top.

For our small team, generative AI images have been invaluable - we just wouldn’t have the time to put together all of the artwork if we were drawing characters and splash pages manually. If you can’t tell, we love animation and comics, so that was always the style we were going for - stock photos have their place but that place isn’t in Dirtyword. Could I draw our Whisper character without AI? Absolutely - I’ve drawn cartoon characters my entire life. Do I have the time though? Hell no.

The legal and moral implications of AI-generated images is a massive talking point at the moment, not just in e-learning but across all sectors. It’s a grey area and the policies of different companies are still being thrashed out as to what their services are trained on and can output for people to use in their work. Laws take time to put into effect, so it’s going to be a bit of a mess for a while. Also there is a whole army of human artists up in arms and gunning for anyone who dares to use AI to create images.

But for those of you who want to dabble and think that using AI-generated images in your e-learning projects is the way to go, what are the rules right now?

Educational Use: Teaching with AI Art

Using AI-gen images in education seems like a no-brainer. Need a quick illustration for a science concept? AI’s got your back. But there are some things to consider:

Copyright concerns: Most AI art generators are trained on existing images. There’s ongoing debate about whether AI-generated images infringe on the copyrights of the original artists. Courts haven’t fully settled this yet, so tread carefully.

Accuracy issues: AI can sometimes produce images with subtle (or not-so-subtle) inaccuracies. In an educational context, this could lead to misinformation. Always doublecheck your AI-generated content for factual correctness.

Ethical considerations: Are we teaching students to value human creativity if we rely too heavily on AI-generated content? It’s worth pondering the long-term impact on creative skills and critical thinking.

Editorial Use: Illustrating the News with AI

Using AI-generated images for news and editorial content is where things get really tricky. Here’s why:

Authenticity concerns: Journalism is all about truth and accuracy. Using AI-generated images could blur the line between reality and fiction, potentially undermining trust in media.

Misrepresentation risks: AI might unintentionally create biased or stereotypical representations, leading to ethical issues in portraying events or people.

Disclosure dilemmas: If you use AI-gen images in editorial content, should you disclose it? Many argue yes, for transparency’s sake, but there’s no universal standard yet.

Commercial Use: Selling with Synthetic Visuals

Now we’re in Kenny Loggins’ Danger Zone. Using AIgenerated images for commercial purposes opens up a whole can of worms:

Licensing uncertainties: Who owns the rights to an AI-generated image? The person who prompted? The AI company? It’s a legal grey area that’s still being figured out.

Brand risks: Using AI-generated images in advertising or product packaging could backfire if consumers feel deceived or if the images inadvertently include copyrighted elements.

Fair competition questions: Is it fair to compete with human artists and photographers if you’re using AI to create images at a fraction of the cost and time? This ethical debate is just heating up.

So, what’s an e-learning developer to do? Here are some ground rules to keep you on the straight and narrow:

Always disclose: When using AI-generated images, be transparent about it. Let your audience know.

Verify and fact-check: Don’t assume AI-generated images are accurate. Always double-check, especially for educational content.

Use AI as a tool, not a replacement: Blend AI-generated content with human-created work. Don’t rely solely on AI.

Stay informed on legal developments: The legal landscape around AI-generated content is evolving rapidly. Keep up with the latest rulings and guidelines.

Consider the ethical implications: Think about the long-term impact of using AI-generated images on creativity, jobs, and society.

Respect copyright: Avoid using AI tools that are known to scrape copyrighted images without permission.

Be extra cautious with editorial and commercial use: These areas have higher stakes and more potential for legal and ethical pitfalls.

Develop clear policies: If you’re part of an organisation, work on creating clear guidelines for AI image use.

Like the forbidden fruit we all learned about in RE classes at school, taking a bite out of AI-generated images to use in your projects is fraught with danger and may well land you in trouble further down the line. But that’s why it’s so tempting. Go on - like Adam and Eve, you’re only human.