AI Policy

Our commitment

As an initiative dedicated to building a data and AI ecosystem on south Vancouver Island, DAVI has a responsibility to model the responsible use of artificial intelligence. This policy outlines the principles that guide how we use AI within our own operations and how we encourage its use across the regional ecosystem.

Principles

Transparency

We are open about when and how AI is used in our work. When AI-generated content appears on this website or in our communications, we disclose it. We believe transparency builds trust, and trust is the foundation of effective collaboration.

Human oversight

AI tools assist our work but do not replace human judgement. All strategic decisions, stakeholder communications, and public content are reviewed and approved by the DAVI team. AI is a tool, not a decision-maker.

Data privacy

We do not use personal data collected through this website to train AI models. Any data shared with AI tools in the course of our work is anonymised and handled in accordance with our privacy policy. We are committed to complying with applicable Canadian privacy legislation.

Fairness and inclusion

We are mindful that AI systems can reflect and amplify biases present in their training data. We actively work to identify and mitigate bias in any AI tools we use or recommend. We are committed to ensuring that the benefits of AI are accessible to all segments of our regional community, including underrepresented groups and Indigenous communities.

Indigenous data sovereignty

We recognise the importance of Indigenous data sovereignty and the OCAP principles (Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession) in the context of AI development. AI initiatives within the DAVI ecosystem must respect First Nations rights over their data and knowledge systems.

Environmental responsibility

We acknowledge the environmental impact of AI infrastructure, including energy consumption associated with data centres and model training. Our Infrastructure and Capital priority emphasises clean energy advantages and sustainable infrastructure planning.

How we use AI

DAVI currently uses AI tools in the following areas:

• Content development: AI assists with drafting and editing written content, which is always reviewed and refined by our team before publication
• Research and analysis: AI tools help us synthesise research findings and identify patterns in stakeholder feedback
• Website development: AI supports the development and maintenance of this website

For ecosystem participants

We encourage all organisations participating in the DAVI ecosystem to adopt responsible AI practices. Through our Literacy and Adoption programs, we provide guidance, training, and resources to help organisations navigate AI adoption thoughtfully and ethically.

Updates to this policy

As AI technology and best practices evolve, so will this policy. We will review and update it regularly to reflect new developments, stakeholder feedback, and changes in the regulatory landscape.

Questions

If you have questions about this policy or how DAVI approaches AI, please contact us.