Ethical and responsible GenAI use at Maynooth University is not just about how it can help your learning, there are also other issues around using these tools that we encourage you to consider before using these tools:
Student Skills and Success
Privacy and data consent issues
Not all companies are transparent about the training data they have used, often using copyrighted material in their development. Personal Data such as your name, email address, and your work could also be used for training or other purposes without your permission.
Lack of transparency in GenAI development and use
Companies are not obliged to be open about their GenAI tools’ training data and capabilities, so it is not always clear what the limits of that tool might be.
Biases and harmful representations in outputs
Since training data is gathered from the internet (among other sources), it is not equally representative of all voices. GenAI output may replicate cultural biases and generate racist, sexist, ageist, and ableist responses.
Environmental impacts
GenAI tools are having an increasing impact on the environment, in terms of electricity and water consumption, and other resources. Data Centres, on which GenAI tools rely, consumed 21% of all electricity in Ireland in 2023 (CSO, 2024).
The human costs of GenAI development and use
GenAI development raises concerns about the exploitation of, and detrimental impact on workers. This includes those extracting raw materials as well as the working conditions of data workers (including pay and exposure to harmful material).