These guidelines are intended for informative purposes only. They offer high-level advice on the safe and ethical use of AI in NSW public schools. More detailed guidance for staff is available on the department’s intranet.

The Australian Framework for Generative AI in Schools (the Framework) is the guiding framework for safe, ethical and responsible use of AI in Australian schools. This guidance is designed to complement the Framework.

Understanding the potential of AI in education

In schools, AI can be used by qualified and experienced teachers to support learning. It can be used to assist teachers and students with a range of tasks.

Used safely, ethically and effectively, AI can:

• help students explore new ideas and improve writing skills
• assist teachers with planning and feedback
• support creative and critical thinking.

Appropriate AI tools and use

Using the most appropriate AI tools is an important part of ensuring safety, managing potential risks and meeting department responsibilities.

• We recommend the use of NSWEduChat as it was built by the department for safe and secure use.
• Other tools may be approved for use once the department has assessed cyber security, safety and ethical risks.
• Staff have access to free AI tools not yet reviewed by the department and must use their professional judgement and follow minimum safety practices. This includes not inputting student work or personal, sensitive or confidential information and carefully reviewing AI-generated content before use.

Using AI safely and responsibly

Everyone has a role to play in using AI safely and responsibly. Staff are expected to use their professional judgment to decide whether AI is appropriate for the task, choose the right AI tools for that task, and apply the safety and ethical checks outlined in this guidance.

Risks of using AI

To harness the potential of safe AI, it’s important to be aware of and manage a range of risks. These risks include the potential for:

• Breaches to data privacy: AI tools may unintentionally store or share personal data. It’s important to remove personal details before using them.
• Bias and misinformation: AI outputs can be inaccurate, biased, outdated, or culturally inappropriate, especially if tools aren’t specifically tailored for Australian students.
• Inappropriate content: AI-generated content may occasionally include harmful or explicit material, particularly if not closely monitored.
• Lack of accountability and transparency: AI systems don’t always explain how they work, and users may be responsible for how the content is used.

Minimum safety practices

These minimum safety practices help manage risks when using AI tools:

1. Remove sensitive or confidential information from AI inputs. Ensure no private or sensitive information about individuals or the department is entered into AI tools. Note for NSWEduChat and certain approved tools, some personal identifying information may be entered as data is secured.
2. Review and edit AI outputs before use. Ensure AI-generated content is critically reviewed for errors, bias, harmful or unsafe content.

For more information on these minimum safety practices, please visit AI Guidelines (staff only).

Ethical checks for AI use

Ethical checks help us make sure AI is used responsibly, safely, fairly and respectfully. They help protect people’s privacy, reduce the risk of bias or harm, and help build transparency and trust as we continue to use AI.

Staff are strongly encouraged to consider these ethical checks before any AI use:

1. Oversight: stay engaged with the AI output. Ensure you are actively reviewing AI outputs, and they are aligned to your intended purpose.
2. Diversity and bias awareness: be mindful of echo chambers. Use AI in ways that explore diverse ideas and perspectives and help reduce bias.
3. Explainability: ensure you can describe and account for your actions or steps in generating AI content.
4. Knowledge boundaries and expertise: use AI for tasks where you or a knowledgeable peer can critically assess the results.
5. Respect for others: ensure AI use is respectful of colleagues, students, and the community, including their data.
6. Community alignment: AI use should align with your community’s values and expectations.

Want more information or support?

Educators

Please read the AI Guidelines (staff only) for more comprehensive information on safe, ethical and effective AI use. The department offers a range of professional learning and resources to support staff use of generative AI and NSWEduChat. Staff can visit the NSWEduChat resource library (staff only) for further information.

Parents and carers

For more information please visit:

• Helping parents and carers understand AI in education.
• NSWEduChat and student use of NSWEduChat to learn more about the department’s own AI tool.