Students and staff must carefully consider the ethical implications of using approved GenAI tools.

Bias 

Human biases, which are inherently present in the process of information generation, can be replicated in GenAI tools. These advanced systems generate outputs based on pre-existing human-created content, including:

• Blogs
• Websites
• Other forms of media

These sources may not align with the values of the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB). It is important to consider these risks, especially in light of the guidance provided by the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) on the impact of Artificial Intelligence.

Indigenous Knowledge

GenAI must be used in ways that honour and respect Indigenous:

• Knowledge systems 
• Worldviews
• Data sovereignty 

Indigenous knowledge is not in the public domain. It is living, relational, and often held collectively. Its use or representation by AI systems raises important ethical, cultural, and spiritual considerations that go beyond copyright or citation.

Environmental Considerations 

GenAI’s environmental impact is substantial. It creates significant carbon emissions from high energy use in training, formulating prompt responses, and operating complex models. This contributes to climate change and increases greenhouse gas emissions.