Artificial Intelligence: Taming the Beast
Dr. Kari Murphy
What an exciting time to be an educator as artificial intelligence (AI) reaches into teaching 
and learning! Throughout my career, I have witnessed the integration of transformative 
technologies—the calculator, the computer, the Internet, and the iPad—each changing 
how I taught and how students learned. AI is no different. While the evolution can be both 
exhilarating and intimidating, we cannot ignore it. As educators, we have a responsibility 
to be proactive in preparing our students for tomorrow’s workforce.
Reframing AI as a Creative Tool
Rather than viewing AI as a replacement for artists, think of it as a creative tool—a “digital assistant” 
for the studio. AI is a medium, like charcoal or clay. Artists make the key decisions: concept, 
refinement, narrative, and meaning. AI outputs serve as starting points; craftsmanship, iteration, 
and interpretation remain central to the artistic process.
Six Essential Considerations for Using Generative AI in Art Instruction
1. Prioritize Privacy and Compliance
	
• Know your policies. Review your district and school policies on acceptable use and 	 	
	
state laws protecting student data. If your school system lacks clear guidelines, volunteer 	
	
to help craft them.
	
• Verify tool requirements. Check age restrictions on generative AI tools. Many require 	
	
users to be 18 without parental consent or at least 13 with consent. Ensure the tool 	
	
	
complies with FERPA and COPPA and protects student data.
2. Teach Responsible, Ethical, and Safe Use
	
• Address data scraping. Explain how AI models are trained on collected data and 	
	
	
  can generate inappropriate content, sometimes violating copyright and consent. Discuss 	
	
  the unauthorized “scraping” of living artists’ work and help students understand 		
	
	
  intellectual property rights and how to respect creators.
	
• Discuss bias and hallucinations. Show students how AI can reinforce stereotypes 	 	
	
  and produce inaccurate results. For example, ask AI to generate images of famous 	
	
	
  artists; if it shows only men, discuss why the output is biased and how this shapes our 		
	
  understanding of history.
	
• Model ethical behavior. Demonstrate transparent and responsible use. Reinforce 	
	
	
  digital citizenship by refusing to generate harmful, hateful, or inappropriate content.
  

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