CILIP's outgoing CEO Nick Poole led 'Developing your AI policy', a workshop which provided practical insights and activities for delegates to begin creating their own organisational AI policy.

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AI policy is set to become the new GDPR, and the release of the UK government’s AI Regulation White Paper this month is accelerating government action on building a legal framework for AI regulation.

AI took centre stage at CILIP Employer Forum, and the programme was aimed at supporting sector organisations in bridging the AI knowledge and experience gap.

In addition to the 'Developing your AI policy' workshop, case studies were presented from both sides of the sector, an employer and an educator.

Worcestershire Council’s successful application of AI to improve efficiency, increase citizen engagement, and provide data-driven insights, supported by a robust AI policy, was the first of two case studies.

A case study from Manchester University provided insights into an education provider’s experience and application of AI policy in relation to academic research and teaching, and covered plagiarism detection issues, and its outcomes for staff and students.

‘Developing your AI policy’, which was led by CILIP’s outgoing CEO Nick Poole, brought delegates together to approach the task of creating their own organisational AI policy, while sharing their own organisations’ experiences and learnings.

The discussion and cross-sector collaboration generated a list of AI policy priorities and principles for organisations in the sector.

Top institutional needs when thinking about the application of AI

• Risk management and compliance
• Overcoming inequity of access to information
• Maintaining perceived value of educational experience (when learning content can be generated by AI)
• Continuing to value Research as an output of the institution (HE)
• Embedding AI meaningfully into existing workflows
• Understanding how to ensure safe use of AI in 3rd party systems through procurement
• Overcoming digital inequality
• Helping students to understand why they should not 'outsource' learning to AI
• Ironing out very different degrees of understanding of what AI is and how it works
• Managing quality assurance in information services
• Helping students to avoid AI-driven plagiarism
• Taking a risk-managed approach while focusing on the benefits of AI

Top principles which will shape your use of AI

• Managing the impact of AI on teaching and learning
• Need for clarity/avoid mixed messages for students and learners
• Need to build confidence with AI and AI literacy
• Monitoring enhanced risk of AI-driven misinformation
• Policing misuse of AI, for example in applications to HE
• Helping students to understand and respect IP while using AI tools
• Taking a positive human-centred approach (not technology-led)
• Maintain our professional ethics despite funding pressures
• Prioritise safety

CILIP is now adapting this workshop into a downloadable resource for members and partner organisations to run their own workshops and produce their own AI policy, which we will share via our fortnightly newsletter.

Resources

Download Nick’s slides (members only)

Department for Science, Innovation & Technology’s - A pro-innovation approach to AI regulation: government response white paper

Adoption and knowledge Gap in libraries and knowledge management