Using Generative AI

The use of artificial intelligence is transforming the way we volunteer.

Generative AI (GenAI) is a type of artificial intelligence that creates new content by learning from large amounts of existing data. It uses machine learning and algorithms to recognise patterns and generate text, images, or other outputs that resemble human creativity and thinking.

There’s an increasing belief that informed and responsible use of GenAI can increase efficiency, improve decision-making and encourage innovation. However, we recognise it also comes with potential risks, including data protection breaches, copyright issues, disclosure of confidential information, ethical considerations, and compliance with legal obligations.

The Scout Association doesn’t endorse the use of any specific tools. However, we’ve provided principles to help local Scout Groups if they do make the decision to use GenAI at a local level and take on the associated risks. The responsibility for making these decisions sits with Local Trustee Boards. The principles are:

• Personal, sensitive, and confidential data: Never enter confidential, sensitive, or personal data into GenAI applications, as they may store and learn from the content.
• Intellectual property rights and licensing: Avoid using images, logos, crafted copy or other intellectual property owned by The Scout Association or third parties in GenAI applications. This may infringe on the terms of use.
• Discriminatory language: Never input offensive, discriminatory, defamatory or other inappropriate content as prompts. Always make sure that all inputs align with Scouts Values.
• Security: Apply the same security measures to GenAI applications as you do to all IT applications and comply with your local IT security policies.
• Review outputs: GenAI can produce inaccurate outputs or ‘hallucinations’. Always fact-check and review outputs to make sure they are appropriate, accurate and unbiased.
• Ethical and responsible use: Use GenAI applications ethically and responsibly and in accordance with Scouts Values. Never generate content to impersonate, bully or harass others, or to create explicit or offensive content.
• Third-party add-ons: Be cautious of third-party services built on top of GenAI applications. Avoid inputting information into these add-ons.
• Transparency: Be honest about your use of GenAI, especially when producing content for Scouts. Inform your colleagues when you’ve used GenAI. In some cases, there may be a legal requirement to publish a notice or watermark indicating that content was generated using AI.