Esri Community AI Use Policy
Genuine, high-quality contributions from members are irreplaceable to Esri Community’s core purpose of connecting GIS users around the world. As generative AI becomes an increasingly commonplace tool, it presents our members with value-add opportunities that are welcome where they promote connection, authenticity, and quality interactions. Generative AI is also easily misused, presenting risks to online communities that include diluting that core purpose of connection.
Members should follow these guidelines for responsible use of AI in Esri Community.
Enhance, Don’t Replace
When used, AI should supplement and enrich discussions and shared content, not substitute for genuine human insight or experience. Preparing a rough first draft, proofreading, polishing language, finding examples, or simplifying complex thoughts are all potential examples of responsible AI use.
AI should be a tool that helps members communicate more effectively and decrease barriers to authentic engagement. A published post should always reflect the author’s own understanding, experience, and judgment. Posts that heavily or wholly rely on verbatim AI-generated content, where the author’s own voice is either moot or absent, most likely do not meet this standard (i.e.- Posts shouldn't just be copied-and-pasted AI content.).
Maintain Accuracy and Transparency
Only share AI-enhanced content that is accurate, relevant, and helpful to the conversation. Avoid posting content that is misleading, off-topic, or does not contribute meaningfully. Members are expected to review and verify AI-enhanced responses for accuracy and relevance before posting.
Any post or comment containing AI-enhanced content must include a visible disclaimer stating that origin. Example text: “This response is enhanced with AI.”
Attribution of an AI source is unnecessary when it is used in ways that do not result in the substantive contribution of content (e.g.- proofreading, word choice recommendation, thought process validation, etc.).
Adhere to Esri Community Rules
Esri Community Guidelines, Terms of Use, and Etiquette Expectations protect the safety and professionalism of Esri Community. Members utilizing AI-enhanced content are responsible for ensuring any contributions they publish meet the standards outlined therein.
Report AI Misuse
In addition to examples shared above, spammers and other bad actors sometimes use AI to mimic language from the environment they are publishing to. This can look like posts that use relevant technical terms, on-topic ideas, or even sensible responses to others’ points. That approach is meant to create a confusing “camouflage” effect that can make detecting unwelcome parts of their content more difficult, though a close inspection will often reveal a hyperlink irrelevant to the conversation.
Image: Esri Community post using generative AI to produce topical response around spam content.
If you encounter a post in conflict with this AI Use Policy, you can use that post’s built in feature to Report Inappropriate Content and Spam. Alternately, you can reach out to the Esri Community team email alias at: esricommunity@esri.com
Note that the Esri Community team may not always be able to determine with 100 percent accuracy if something is AI-generated. When evaluating posts for AI policy adherence, our team will use available tools and exercise best judgement.
