These principles define the responsibilities that guide how AI is used across the university.

1. Accountable. The intentional choices and actions of humans lead our AI use implementation and management. Humans are accountable for content they create with AI. Our administrative, educational, and research uses of AI emphasize the enhancement of human well-being and dignity and aim to support and enhance human capabilities.
2. Inclusive. We respect diverse local and Indigenous knowledges in our use of AI by drawing on individuals with varied cultural, disciplinary, and experiential backgrounds to inform our understanding and shape our approach. We emphasize authentic collaboration amongst individuals with diverse perspectives in decision-making related to AI infrastructure and use.
3. Equitable. Because AI can produce content that is inaccurate and reflects bias inherent in its training data, USask users of AI take deliberate action to limit the amplification and/or reinforcement of social and academic inequalities in their use of content produced by AI.
4. Responsible. We strive to uphold equity and human rights in AI infrastructure decision making. We aim to uphold USask’s responsibilities in ecological stewardship in the ways we procure, build, and maintain AI infrastructure.

These principles reflect the importance of understanding how AI works and how it should be used.

5. Literate. We provide support for AI literacy development ensuring faculty, staff and students have opportunity for effective and ongoing preparation to use AI ethically and appropriately in teaching and learning, research, and administration. USask users of AI have a responsibility to engage in learning about responsible, ethical and appropriate use in their context.
6. Accessible. AI applications that USask provides, endorses, and supports (e.g., to produce text and images, to provide tutorial supports, to process applications, etc.) are deployed in ways that facilitate equitable access for faculty, staff and student users. We identify and implement AI applications that all faculty, staff, and students can easily use.

These principles guide how AI tools are selected, used, and evaluated.

7. Transparent. When USask uses AI applications, we will be transparent about its use and assess its alignment with the principles
8. Compliant. We use AI in ways that comply with USask policy, practices and legal requirements and the terms of use of the applications. AI applications that we build will be trained on reliable, relevant, and ethically sourced data.
9. Secure. AI use at USask will uphold rigorous privacy and security standards. We ensure steadfast compliance with legal and ethical frameworks in the AI applications USask provides, endorses and supports.

These principles recognize that AI use will continue to evolve and require ongoing evaluation and adaptation.

10. Innovative. All members of the USask community strive for responsible use of AI applications to enhance learning and discovery. We recognize that innovation in the use of AI involves making space for experimentation fueled by creativity and curiosity and that there will be innovations, challenges, and mistakes along the way. Errors and insights that result from experimentation will be used as opportunities for growth.
11. Evolving. The journey of AI integration is a continuous learning process requiring patience and open-mindedness. We actively seek feedback from members of the USask community as part of monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness and impact of the use of AI related to institutional priorities and the changing landscape of AI technology. We evolve these principles and guidelines and our use based on the outcomes.

Full USask AI principles and guidelines

Explore the complete principles, guidelines, and implementation framework.

• Read the full USask AI principles