Generative AI Policy

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“AI is radium. AI is hydrocortisone. Both eventually turned out to be very useful in certain circumstances. But the initial urge to put them in everything created a lot of disasters” 

- John Rosevear, Providence-based Journalist for The Motley Fool

After research (see Section D below), 189 Development has concluded that at this time most of GenAI’s apparent benefits are vastly outweighed by its potential harms to Rhode Island’s creatives, women, environment, and democracy, among other things. Also, too-quick adoption of GenAI is itself potentially harmful. The dangers are such that we believe there is no ‘first mover’ advantage for most to leap in without pause.  

If privileged organizations, such as ours, do not stand against these potential damages, who will? Therefore, 189 Development has developed a set of policies which will apply from May 1, 2026, onward until such time as we announce changes. 

Note: We very much welcome suggestions, dialogue, and further research, as we refine this policy moving forward. We anticipate revisiting it twice annually for the near future. Unsure if or how your organization or activities might be impacted by this policy? Please reach out. We welcome discussion. 

A. External: GenAI Policy Impacting All Our Grantees

GenAI products and services are so relentlessly promoted and built in to almost every type of software these days that it is increasingly difficult to run operations without involving GenAI in some manner. 

We would like to slow the potential harm of GenAI, without making everyday activities harder for the community we serve. To that end, we ask grantees to avoid three specific areas of GenAI use:

1. Avoid encouragement of GenAI use in your programs 

189 Development funds may not be used to support programs in which grantees specifically teach, require, publicize, or proactively encourage people to use GenAI.

2. Avoid purchasing creative products and services made with GenAI

189 Development funds may not be used to purchase creative writing, copywriting or grant writing, graphic design, images, videography or other design products and services made using GenAI.

3. Avoid using GenAI for direct communications with 189 Development

From emails to grant applications and grant reports, 189 Development asks that grantees’ direct communications with us be created entirely without using GenAI. 

This policy will be mainly enforced via the honor system. However, should we discover a grantee is engaged with any of the above, we will contact that grantee to better understand the situation; and, if warranted, further grants to them may be at risk. 

B. External: Additional Policy Impacting Grantees Focused on Creatives, Design and the Arts 

Grantees with a mission focused on creatives, design and/or the arts should avoid GenAI-related programming, promotions and purchasing completely, regardless of the revenue source which backed them.

Again, this policy will be mainly enforced via the honor system. However, should we discover a grantee is engaged with any of the above, we will contact them to better understand the situation; and, if warranted, further funding for them may be at risk. 

C. Internal: GenAI Policy Impacting Our Own Operations and Vendors

o  Financial:

189 Development will continue, to the extent it is possible, to avoid investing in stocks and other financial vehicles benefiting from companies involved in the development and sales of GenAI offerings. Additionally, 189 Development has invested a portion of our funds in clean energy initiatives to counteract GenAI’s environmental impact. 

o  Operational:

Although GenAI is increasingly baked into software, search engines and apps we use in the course of business, we will (a) avoid using those features to the best of our ability, (b) avoid purchasing software where its main purpose is GenAI functionality and (c) avoid purchasing creative products and services such as graphics, images, design and writing which are largely created by use of GenAI. 

o  Vendors:

We ask all our suppliers, vendors, consultants and services to avoid using GenAI in their production or work on our behalf, especially for online research (where it is prone to giving incorrect results, aka ‘hallucinations’) and in content, graphic, design and video creation. 

D. Non-Comprehensive List of Research Sources

Harm to the environment 

Explained: Generative AI’s environmental impact, MIT News, January 17, 2025

A Computer Scientist Breaks Down Generative AI’s Hefty Carbon Footprint, Scientific American, May 25, 2023

Data Centers and Water Consumption, Environmental and Energy Study Institute, June 25, 2025

Harm to your brain

Your Brain on Chat GPT, MIT Media Lab, 2025  

Thinking—Fast, Slow, and Artificial: How AI is Reshaping Human Reasoning and the Rise of Cognitive Surrender, Wharton School of Research, University of Pennsylvania, February 10, 2026

Biased AI writing assistants shift users’ attitudes on societal issues, Cornell University, March 11, 2026

Harm to creatives: artists, writers and designers

Today in “Things that ‘AI’ has ruined”, John Scalzi, March 3, 2026

Authors Challenge Meta’s Use Of Their Books For Training AI, Forbes, March 25, 2025

Authors Complaint Against Anthropic, Formal legal complaint, August 18, 2024  

Design graduates 'competing' against AI for jobs, BBC, October 25, 2025

Harm to women

AI-powered online abuse: How AI is amplifying violence against women and what can stop it, United Nations Women, November 18, 2025

Gender bias, AI, and deepfakes are promoting misogyny online, London School of Economics, Women, Peace and Security Blog, January 9, 2025

The Real Problem Behind AI Misogyny Isn’t the Images, American University of Beirut, February 13, 2026

Harm to Cost of Living

AI Job Loss Tracker, The Alliance for Secure AI, updated daily

AI Data Centers: Big Tech's Impact on Electric Bills, Water, and More, Consumer Reports, March 20, 2026 

Harm to Democracy

Technofascism: AI, Big Tech, and the new authoritarianism, AI & Society: Knowledge, Culture & Communication Journal, January 25, 2026

‘Technofascism’: Critics accuse Palantir of pushing AI war doctrine, Al Jazeera, April 20, 2026