Acknowledgement of Use
When to disclose, and how.
Disclosure is not required for every AI interaction — grammar checks, synonym lookups, and data formatting do not need acknowledgement. It is required wherever AI drafted or substantially shaped the content a reader is relying on.
| Context | Disclose? | Wording |
|---|---|---|
| Documents and long-form copy | Yes, if AI drafted or substantially rewrote | Footnote: “Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed by [name], Youth Ministry Futures.” |
| Email correspondence | Yes, if AI drafted | Postscript: “Written with AI assistance.” |
| Visual artefacts (slides, graphics, charts) | Yes, if AI generated the layout or visual structure | Credit line: “Produced with AI assistance using the YMF brand system.” |
| Short-form / social | No standard requirement unless presented as personal testimony | — |
| Grammar check, synonym suggestion, data formatting | No | — |
“Would the reader consider it material to their trust in the content? If yes, disclose.”
Threshold
What counts as AI authorship
The threshold is substantial shaping, not mere assistance. AI that generates a structural outline a human then writes from scratch sits below the threshold — the human is the author. AI that drafts sentences, paragraphs, or full documents that a human then edits sits above it. When in doubt, apply the disclosure test: if the reader would consider it material, disclose.
The standard applies to published and externally-shared material. Internal notes, rough drafts, and working documents used only for research or preparation do not require disclosure.