AI Policy

Purpose and Scope

This policy aims to define the ways that the Dublin 2029 Worldcon (Bid and possible convention) will interact with the suite of technologies collectively called “Generative Artificial Intelligence” or “GenAI”, or often simply “AI”. Those technologies include, non-exhaustively, large language models (LLMs), diffusion models, and many natural language controlled automation systems.

The use of GenAI in works nominated for or winning the Hugo Award is outside of this document’s scope, as those rules are set by the World Science Fiction Society (WSFS).

This policy does not apply to incidental use of AI technologies that are not identified as such where the user interacts with it. This policy also does not set out to restrict or constrain “ubiquitous” AI technologies (for example, AI summaries in search results for some search engines).

These days it is difficult to completely avoid GenAI due to its adoption by most major tech platforms. Images, text, and videos created by GenAI are getting harder to differentiate from human-created works. Because we are committed to not using GenAI for content creation, if you suspect we have used GenAI in anything we put out it will be accidental and we’d be grateful to hear about it: please contact us at info@dublin2029.ie 

Objectives & Reasoning

Worldcon is a convention attended by and supporting a literary and artistic community. The AI policy of such a convention must respect and serve that community. At the same time, this policy does not require that the full provenance of every piece of work must be proven to be human-based in order to be allowed.

The reasons for this policy are threefold: 

  • GenAI is built upon the stolen work of artists within our own Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror community, and has done immense harm. We don’t condone or accept that, and we don’t want to cause further harm. 
  • GenAI’s massive demands on resources including water and energy are ethically unacceptable in the face of climate and environmental emergencies. If we want a future for our futuristic dreams, we must make sure our home is a liveable place. More on this topic can be found in the sustainability policy.
  • Even though we love exploring new technologies, we’re a community of humans. Humans are creative, flexible, resourceful, and have learning capabilities. We will make mistakes, but we are accountable. GenAI is not. 

Generative AI Usage

Prohibited Uses

  • Production of art assets for the bid and convention;
  • Production of communication with convention members;
  • Production of written copy for the convention website;
  • Performance of convention administrative activities;
  • Handling of member, volunteer or performer information;
  • Handling of voting information;
  • Translation of artistic works.

Prohibitions on Member / Vendor Use

  • Sale of AI generated art or literature by convention vendors (this includes books written by humans with AI generated artwork);
  • Display of AI generated art at the art show;
  • Use of AI generated art in exhibitions or events.

Acceptable Uses

  • Industry standard usage in software development;
  • Captioning for organising meetings and live streamed programmed items;
  • Translation of outbound convention communications, while noting that this will both be reviewed by humans and preferably led by humans.

Disclosure

If a GenAI tool is used for one of these acceptable uses, its use must be disclosed to the relevant Area or Division Head and approved by the Co-Chairs, prior to the use of the product.

Dublin in 2029