Being open about AI, and copyright basics

When you finish, you can decide when to tell others you used AI and avoid common copyright mistakes.

Why openness builds trust

People are more comfortable with AI when they know where it was used. Hiding it can look dishonest, even when your work is good. A short, calm note is usually enough: "I used an AI tool to draft this, and I checked and edited it."

You do not need to announce every spelling fix. A good test is this: would the reader feel misled if they found out later? If yes, say it up front.

When disclosure matters most

Some places have clear rules. Schools may ban or limit AI help in graded work. Journals, courts, clients and employers may require you to say when AI helped. Some products and platforms ask for labels on AI-made images or audio.

Read the rules for where your work will go. If there are no rules, lean toward saying so. Weak: handing in an AI essay as your own. Strong: "I used AI to brainstorm an outline, then wrote and revised the essay myself."

Copyright, described generally

Copyright laws differ by country and are still being tested for AI. In general, some creative work belongs to its creator, and copying large parts of it without permission can cause trouble. AI might produce text or images that echo existing work.

This is not legal advice. Practical habits help: do not ask AI to copy a living artist's or author's exact work; do not paste another person's paid or private material into a tool and republish the output; and check the terms of the tool for what you may do with its results.

You are still the author

Whatever AI gives you, your name goes on it, so you answer for it. Check facts, rewrite so it sounds like you, and keep a note of how you used the tool.

Example: Tomas, a freelance designer in Lisbon, uses AI for rough taglines. He tells clients he uses AI for brainstorming, rewrites every line himself, and checks that nothing matches an existing slogan. His clients trust him more, not less.

Practice now

Write your own two-sentence AI disclosure that you could add to work you share.
Look up one place you submit work, such as school, an employer or a platform, and write down what it says about AI use.

Use any AI assistant you have. Do not paste private, client or patient information into it.

Check yourself

1. What is a good test for whether to disclose AI help?

2. Which habit helps avoid copyright trouble?

3. Who answers for AI-assisted work you share under your name?

Ask the AI tutor

Ask anything about this lesson, in any language. The tutor is an AI: it can be wrong, and it never needs your personal details.

Next lesson: Following and shaping workplace AI rules

AI-drafted. Checked by an automated validator and a separate AI reviewer; a person has not read every lesson. Translations and tutor answers are AI-made. Found a mistake? Tell us. AI can be wrong. General information only, not professional advice. Not affiliated with any AI company named. Current University is not accredited.