Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Culture has issued a guide on the ethics of using artificial intelligence in the cultural sector, one of the products of the Cultural Policy Lab.
The guide aims to promote informed, responsible and fair practices in using AI technologies across the creative industries and mitigate the risks of misuse. It balances harnessing AI’s potential with preserving the authenticity of Saudi creativity and culture.
The guide can be downloaded through the ministry’s website.
The guide covers 11 cultural sectors and targets cultural institutions and practitioners, as well as AI technology developers. It outlines potential forms of misuse in each sector and provides guidance to help cultural-sector workers keep pace with emerging technologies and use them responsibly. It also seeks to promote innovation that supports the sector’s development and growth and raise awareness of ethical and unethical practices related to AI use.
The guide is based on seven guiding principles: cultural safety and authenticity; ownership and attribution of creative works; transparency, explainability and lawful data use; ethical and fair use of AI; AI as a tool to empower creativity; enhancing access to cultural content; and protecting data privacy and security.
The guide stresses that humans remain responsible for the creative vision and final artistic output, while AI should serve as a supporting tool that enhances creators’ capabilities. It calls for disclosure of AI use, obtaining the necessary approvals, verifying the integrity of data and outputs, and respecting copyright and intellectual property rights.
The guide aligns with guidelines issued by the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP) and is consistent with UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, as well as relevant frameworks issued by the Saudi Data & AI Authority (SDAIA).
The guide is a non-binding document, with applicable laws and regulations in Saudi Arabia remaining the overriding reference.
