Our commitment to ethical AI

Updated: February 2026

The National Screen Institute uses artificial intelligence (AI) as a tool to improve efficiency, support research and strengthen programs and services. AI does not replace the insight, experience or decision-making of our team.

We use AI tools that have been reviewed and approved by the organization for internal use. These tools support staff with tasks like drafting communications, organizing non-sensitive information and identifying patterns in anonymized data.

We do not use AI to make automated decisions or replace human judgement. Every AI-generated output is reviewed and refined by a member of our team.

We are committed to using AI in ways that reflect our values: equity, diversity, accessibility and inclusion. We follow clear guidelines to ensure AI use is safe, transparent and respectful of the storytellers, communities and partners we serve.

We do not input confidential or personal information into AI tools. When AI is used, it is through secure, organization-managed platforms and limited to content that is non-sensitive and suitable for this type of assistance. Free or publicly accessible AI tools are never used to process or store internal or sensitive material.

Principles that guide us

We follow a people-first, responsible approach to AI based on the following core principles:

• Human oversight: Humans are always accountable for final decisions.
• Critical thinking and bias awareness: We evaluate all AI outputs for fairness, accuracy and inclusivity.
• Transparency: When we use AI in public materials, we disclose it clearly and responsibly. For example, some of the content on our website has been developed with the help of AI tools, such as help drafting or editing text. All such content is reviewed and refined by staff before publication to ensure it meets our standards for accuracy, tone and inclusion.
• Privacy and safety: We do not use public AI tools for sensitive, personal or confidential content.
• Sustainability and learning: We use AI when it adds value – not by default – and remain committed to learning and adapting as technologies evolve.

What we don’t do with AI

We do not:

• Use public AI tools (e.g., free ChatGPT) to process or store private participant data, HR files, legal documents or internal content
• Use AI to make hiring, selection or funding decisions
• Present AI-generated content without human review or clear attribution
• Use AI in ways that could cause harm, discrimination or exclusion

Global standards we align with

Our approach is informed by widely recognized ethical frameworks, including:

• Government of Canada’s Directive on Automated Decision-Making
• Montréal Declaration for Responsible Development of AI
• OECD AI Principles (adopted by over 40 countries including Canada)

These frameworks emphasize transparency, inclusion, human-centred design and accountability – all values reflected in our internal AI policy and day-to-day use.

About this statement

This statement was developed with assistance from AI tools and reviewed, refined and approved by National Screen Institute staff.