If your business or web site uses AI, whether for content creation (emails, newsletters, web site) or customer service chatbots, you may want to consider publishing an AI disclaimer to alleviate the fears for your New Zealand customers. In addition, if you use Mātauranga Māori/Māori Data, you should also include this in your disclaimers either a a section or a separate Māori Data Disclaimer.
AI disclaimers are are written, easy to find and understand, and publicly published on your web site, emails, and products to inform your customers and audience when you use AI technology with the creation of images, audio, text and any other AI generated output. The intention is to build trust with your audience and customers so they know when they are dealing with a human being or an AI. More recently, AI disclaimers also ensure compliance with ethical standards and emerging regulations such as the EU Act.
AI principles are different than disclaimers as they are guidelines that help ensure AI systems are trustworthy, safe, and respectful of human rights. AI principles can help guide the development and use of AI. AI Principles are often only used internally to guide the AI life cycle for a company. It is good practice to publish your AI principles to build current and potential customer and public trust. My next post will discuss these from an Aotearoa New Zealand perspective and use real life examples.
Do we really need an AI Disclaimer?
As AI matures and progresses, humans are losing the ability to differentiate between AI and humans online. A very recent Aotearoa New Zealand example shows how well AI can replicate a human with the humorous Skinny “Get the Skinny” advert.” I also note the AI Disclaimer is at the bottom of the video at all times in a prominent, but not distracting place.
With the introduction of Agentic AI (AGI) increasingly becoming a reality, it is now more important than ever to begin considering AI disclaimers now, and then prepare for Proof of Personhood (PoP) which will likely be the next issue businesses will need to adhere to, especially noting the Skinny advert as a proof of concept above.
Here in New Zealand, 52% of businesses in 2024 have an AI policy, while 50% of worry about bias and 73% safety (DataCom). New Zealand individuals show high levels of mistrust and the need for disclaimers.
For Māori, the above numbers are exasperated with other fears such as trust, tikanga breaches and usage of data. If your web site or business uses Māori Data, you should have considerations of Māori Data Sovereignty included in your Data governance plans and a public Māori Data Sovereignty Disclosure to alleviate the fears of Māori customers and users.
Where to display your AI disclaimer
Your AI disclaimer won’t be useful if your website visitors can’t find it. You will likely be guided by your web site templates and other technical considerations. Here are some key locations to consider:
- Web pages: Display disclaimers directly on pages where you use AI-generated content, such as on blog posts or in chatbot windows.
- Web templates: Include a site-wide disclaimer in the footer of your website to make it easy to access from any page. This location works well if AI content exists across your website.
- Terms and Conditions: Incorporate details about AI use into your organisation’s legal documentation.
- Privacy Statement: Incorporate details about AI use into your organisation’s privacy documentation.
- Emails: Add a short email disclaimer in the signature of emails (usually with your existing email signature) that feature AI-generated elements
- Social media and ads: disclose when AI is used in ads. Noting Social Media such as Meta automatically do this.
AI Disclaimer text examples to copy and paste
If you don’t use AI
If you are like me and largely don’t use AI generated text, the following two examples are real life examples that I created without the use of AI.
Email:
DISCLAIMER: This mail was entirely written by a human. No content was generated by AI.
CAUTION: This email and any attachment(s) may contain information that is both confidential and possibly legally privileged.
Any opinion, advice or information contained in this email and any attachment(s) is to be treated as interim and provisional only and for the strictly limited purpose of the recipient as communicated by me. Neither the recipient nor any other person should act upon it without our separate written authorization of reliance.
If you have received this message in error, please notify me immediately and destroy this message. If you are not the person to whom this message is addressed, be aware that any use, reproduction, or distribution of this message is strictly prohibited. If you received this in error, please contact the sender and immediately delete this email and any attachments.
Taiuru.co.nz web site
Transparency is key – should we ever generate an image or text solely or in part, using Generative AI, there will be a disclaimer associated with the image or the text stating that it is AI generated, the AI name and the prompts that were used.
Generative AI is not yet capable of creating Māori knowledge at an expert level. However, any information that utilises Generative AI, will always be checked by humans and the above disclaimer applied. No information that us generated with Generative AI should be considered as authoritative.
Most images on this site from 2024 onwards have been generated using a Generative AI and copied from web sites that offer the images for free.
This site and our serves do not use any chatbots, AI agents, LLM’s etc.
Any email sent from the taiuru.co.nz and taiuru.maori.nz domains will be entirely written by a human unless otherwise stated. All emails will have the following disclaimer:
DISCLAIMER: This mail was entirely written by a human. No content was generated by AI.
CAUTION: This email and any attachment(s) may contain information that is both confidential and possibly legally privileged.
Any opinion, advice or information contained in this email and any attachment(s) is to be treated as interim and provisional only and for the strictly limited purpose of the recipient as communicated by me. Neither the recipient nor any other person should act upon it without our separate written authorization of reliance.
If you have received this message in error, please notify me immediately and destroy this message. If you are not the person to whom this message is addressed, be aware that any use, reproduction, or distribution of this message is strictly prohibited. If you received this in error, please contact the sender and immediately delete this email and any attachments.
Last updated XXXX
If you do use AI to generate emails
Te Tiriti focused organisations should consider adding a sentence committing to Te Tiriti from their internal documents.
These are a selection of some of the outputs that I looked at and considered were reasonable, but would require the person using them to check that they align with your personal or organisation messages and documentation.
Using the ChatGPT prompt “write an AI disclaimer for an email signature” on March 03, 2025.
AI Disclaimer: This email may contain content generated with AI assistance. While efforts are made to ensure accuracy, AI-generated information may not always be complete or free from bias. Please verify critical details before relying on them.
Using the following ChatGPT prompt “write an ai Disclaimer for a letter or email” on March 03, 2025, produced the following:
This letter/email may contain content generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI). While AI is used to enhance efficiency and accuracy, it may not always reflect human judgment, context, or the most up-to-date information. Recipients are encouraged to verify any critical details before relying on this content.
The sender assumes no liability for errors, omissions, or interpretations arising from AI-generated content. If you require professional or legally binding advice, please consult a qualified expert.
Using Google Gemini:
Google Gemini offered a number of practicable solutions for a person to consider. Below is a summary of the advise stating that there are three types of disclaimers “Short & Simple, Slightly More Detailed, More Comprehensive (and potentially legally oriented)”.
Using the Google Gemini prompt “write a Short and Simple ai Disclaimer for email” on March 03, 2025, produced the following:
This email may contain content generated by AI.
Using the Google Gemini prompt “write a Slightly More Detailed ai Disclaimer for email” on March 03, 2025, produced the following:
Please be aware that portions of this email may have been generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence. While I review and edit all content before sending, AI tools are used to aid in drafting and refining my communications. Therefore, I encourage you to exercise your own judgment and verify any critical information independently, particularly regarding specific facts, figures, or professional advice.
Using the Google Gemini prompt “write a More Detailed ai Disclaimer for email” on March 03, 2025, produced the following:
This email contains content that was created with the assistance of artificial intelligence. While I have reviewed and edited the content to ensure accuracy and relevance, it’s important to understand the following:
* **AI as a Tool:** AI was used as a tool to generate and refine portions of this email, including drafting, summarizing, and suggesting phrasing.
* **Human Oversight:** I maintain responsibility for the final content and its intended message. However, the AI’s involvement means that certain nuances or potential inaccuracies might exist.
* **Verification Encouraged:** I strongly encourage you to independently verify any critical information, particularly data, statistics, or professional advice. AI models, while powerful, can sometimes produce outputs that are factually incorrect or outdated.
* **Contextual Awareness:** Please consider the context of this communication and use your own judgment when interpreting the information provided.
* **No Legal or Professional Advice:** Content generated by AI should not be construed as legal, financial, or other professional advice. Please consult with qualified professionals for such matters.By acknowledging the AI’s role in this communication, I aim to be transparent and promote responsible use of this technology. Your critical evaluation is appreciated.
If you use AI to generate text, images, AI agents and other outputs such as on a web site
Te Tiriti focused organisations should consider adding a sentence committing to Te Tiriti from their internal documents.
Using ChatGPT and the prompt “write an ai Disclaimer for a web site” on March 03, 2025, produced the following:
This website may contain content, recommendations, or interactions generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI). While we strive for accuracy and relevance, AI-generated content may not always be free from errors, biases, or outdated information.
Any information provided by AI should not be considered as professional, legal, or expert advice. Users are encouraged to independently verify critical details before making decisions based on AI-generated content.
We assume no liability for inaccuracies, misinterpretations, or any consequences resulting from the use of AI-generated material on this site. If you have concerns or require professional guidance, please contact a qualified expert.
For inquiries, please reach out to [Your Contact Information].
Using the Google Gemini prompt “write an ai disclaimer More Comprehensive (and potentially legally oriented)” on March 03, 2025, produced the following:
**AI Content Disclaimer** This website and its associated services utilize artificial intelligence (AI) to generate and enhance certain content, including but not limited to text, images, and interactive features. While we endeavor to provide accurate and reliable information, the following considerations apply:
1. **AI as a Tool:** AI is employed as a tool to assist in content creation and processing. It is not a substitute for human judgment, expertise, or professional advice.
2. **No Warranty of Accuracy:** We make no warranties or representations, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness, reliability, or suitability of any AI-generated content. AI models are subject to limitations, including potential inaccuracies, biases, and outdated information.
3. **User Responsibility:** Users are solely responsible for evaluating the reliability and accuracy of AI-generated content. Critical information, including but not limited to legal, financial, medical, or technical advice, should be independently verified with qualified professionals.
4. **Limitation of Liability:** To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, we disclaim all liability for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages arising from the use of or reliance on AI-generated content. This includes, without limitation, damages for loss of profits, data, or other intangible losses.
5. **No Professional Advice:** AI-generated content should not be construed as professional advice of any kind. Users should seek appropriate professional guidance for their specific circumstances.
6. **Continuous Improvement:** We are continuously working to improve the accuracy and reliability of our AI systems. However, we cannot guarantee that AI-generated content will be error-free or meet all user expectations.
7. **Changes to Disclaimer:** We reserve the right to modify or update this disclaimer at any time without prior notice. Users are responsible for reviewing this disclaimer periodically for any changes.
8. **Data Usage:** By interacting with AI features on this website, you acknowledge that your data may be used to improve AI models and services. Please refer to our privacy policy for more information on data usage and protection. By accessing and using this website and its AI-powered features, you acknowledge and agree to the terms of this disclaimer. If you do not agree with these terms, please refrain from using our AI-generated content.
**Please consult with legal counsel to ensure this disclaimer meets the specific legal requirements of your jurisdiction.**
Conclusion
Nothing in this article should be considered legal advise, it is only guidance about AI Disclaimers. Depending on your organisation and products, you may be required to engage with a legal professional.
This article is intended primarily for a New Zealand audience, but will likely be of significant relevance to other countries.
This article attempts to raise the current issues of mistrust many Aotearoa New Zealand individuals and community groups such as Māori have with Artificial Intelligence and recognising the global geopolitical shifts we are experiencing, in particular in relation to AI safety.