We know AI is a complex and often challenging topic for creators. Some of you are excited about its potential, while others have valid concerns about its impact on creative work. As a creative learning platform, we deeply believe in fostering education and discussion around the role of AI for creatives – and we understand it’s quite nuanced and complex to navigate what exactly that looks like for you as an individual creator. As a platform built by and for creators, we're committed to approaching AI in a way that puts your needs, rights, and success first. Here's our pledge to you:

Your Creative Rights Come First (Always)

Your work is yours, period. We will never use your content to train AI models without your knowledge, and you'll always have the power to opt out. Your creative rights aren't just a priority — they're the foundation of our community's trust.

Community First 

Every decision we make about AI will be guided by one question: "How does this benefit our teachers and members?" We won't pursue AI initiatives that could undermine your trust or success, no matter how innovative they might be. Your concerns are our concerns, and your success is our success. We will never engage in AI partnerships or model training that compete with your teaching businesses. 

People are Irreplaceable 

Our community thrives on what we call the "unexplainable factor" — the unique magic that happens when a teacher's guidance and teaching style clicks with a member’s aspirations. It's in the way you explain concepts, share personal experiences, and nurture creative growth. And it’s in the way members progress alongside each other, build their creative practice, and get genuine feedback from you and others along the way. These human connections are irreplaceable and we're committed to preserving and strengthening them.

Success is Shared 

Our community thrives when both our teachers and members succeed. For our teachers, you bring the expertise, personality, and authentic human connection that makes learning meaningful. For our members, you bring the curiosity, creativity, and dedication that makes teaching rewarding. We're here to support both the learning and teaching journeys, never to compete with — or replace — either. Any AI tools we explore will be designed to enhance the creative process and learning experience, while preserving the invaluable human connections that make skill-sharing meaningful.

What We're Exploring

With this in mind, here’s what we’re exploring: 

• Partnerships: We’re open to exploring AI-powered licensing options that could put money directly in the pockets of teachers, opening up new revenue streams and opportunities for teachers on Skillshare.
• Supporting the Learning Experience: We're considering how AI might help members find classes more effectively and engage with your content in meaningful ways. This isn't about replacing teaching but about amplifying your reach and more easily connecting your expertise with members who are looking for it. 
• Supporting the Creative Process: We’re interested in the potential AI tools have in enabling creators to produce content more easily. Think streamlined class planning and resource creation – always as optional tools, never as requirements - that allow you to focus more on teaching.

What We Won’t Do

• Compete with Our Teachers: We will not use AI to generate content that competes with our teachers. Full stop.
• Compromise Community: While AI might make some processes more efficient, we won't sacrifice the genuine connections and discovery that make our community special. Learning is about the journey, not just the destination.
• Exploit Your Data: We won't use your class content, projects, or community interactions to train AI models without giving you the ability to opt-out. Your creative work belongs to you.
• Force AI Integration: We won't require teachers or members to use AI tools. Any AI features we introduce will always be optional and designed to enhance, not replace, your natural creative process.
• Lose the Magic of Discovery: While AI can help members find answers more quickly, we’re not interested in optimizing for speed at the expense of what makes Skillshare unique: continuous learning within a community. We want to foster ongoing learning, connections between teachers and members, and a platform that sees people getting lost in their daily practice and discovering new skills along the way. 

Our Commitment to You

We recognize that views on AI vary widely within our creative community, and we respect those differences. As we navigate this landscape together, we promise to:

• Listen to your concerns and adapt our approach based on your feedback
• Be completely transparent about how we use AI
• Prioritize tools that enhance rather than replace human creativity
• Keep our community's success at the heart of every decision

This isn't just our platform — it's yours. Every step we take with AI will be guided by what's best for our teachers and members, because when you succeed, we all succeed.