Our PrinciplesAI:OK exists because AI is changing music faster than the industry can respond. We believe the people most affected by that change - creators, professionals, students, and institutions - deserve more than headlines and hype. They deserve a structured, honest, evidence-based way to understand what is happening, why it matters, and what they can do about it.
Literacy before opinion
The module does not tell you what to think about AI. It gives you the structure to think clearly - how the system works, what the tools do, who holds the power, and what your position is. We believe informed judgement matters more than fast takes.
Music first, not technology first
Most AI literacy starts with the technology. We start with the industry it is changing. Music is universal, culturally intimate, and the place where AI disruption lands first. Understanding music is the way in - not the special case.
Dr. Martin Clancy, AI:OK Co-founderJudgement, not just information
Every lesson ends with three questions — understanding, application, and judgement. The first two test knowledge. The third asks what you would actually decide. We believe literacy is not complete until you can form and defend a position.
Built by practitioners, not technologists
The programme was created by people who work inside the music industry, not outside it looking in. The research, the case studies, the examples, and the arguments all come from lived experience of the systems AI is changing. That is why the content resonates with the people it is designed for.
Meet AI:OK
AI:OK is the trustmark for music AI. It is a per-use certification and labelling system for music artefacts - tracks, stems, catalogues, training data, and AI-generated outputs — designed to signal AI governance compliance, provenance, and ethical use across the music industry.
The trustmark is built on an expert system developed at Dublin City University and commercialised as a spinout under Enterprise Ireland Commercialisation Fund CF-2023-2241-1. It is led by Dr. Martin Clancy, with advisory support from Yvan Boudillet (Music Tech Europe) and strategic partnerships including MishMash Centre Norway.
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Based in Dublin, the “Silicon Valley” of the EU, and funded by the Irish government through Enterprise Ireland, AI:OK was formed in collaboration DCU/Insight SFI Research Centre and Trinity College aligned with a network of international AI research institutes. AI:OK is a neutral actor with industry expertise independent of any specific stakeholder group representation. By engaging in focused preparation for emerging technologies we ensure future proof readiness. As a trusted voice in AI we understand that losing public confidence in this domain is not an option. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of ethical practice.
The Insight SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics is one of Europe’s largest data analytics research organisations, with over 450 researchers, more than 220 industry partners and €150+ million in funding.
Insight is made up of four host institutions at DCU, University of Galway, UCC and UCD. Insight’s partner sites are Maynooth University, TCD, Tyndall and UL.
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Artistic Intelligence - the AI literacy programme on this site - is one layer of a wider governance infrastructure. The full AI:OK ecosystem includes vendor certification for AI music tool companies, enterprise platform licensing for labels and publishers, catalogue certification for rights holders, and per-use trustmark labelling at the artefact level.
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The literacy programme exists because governance without understanding does not work. Standards, certifications, and trustmarks are only meaningful if the people using them understand what they are for. Artistic Intelligence builds that understanding - from the ground up, starting with music.
Let’s begin the conversation
Whether you are interested in the programme, exploring it for your organisation, or want to discuss a partnership — we would like to hear from you.