AI Use Policy

Permitted Use

NGB may use AI-generated imagery for:

• conceptual article covers;
• illustrations for stories where no documentary image is required;
• visual representations of abstract market, platform or performance themes;
• clearly illustrative compositions connected to the article subject.

AI-generated imagery is a visual interpretation. It is not evidence that a depicted event, scene, product feature or gameplay sequence occurred.

The image should support the subject without creating a false impression that it came from a developer, publisher, platform owner or real-world event.

AI Images Must Not Be Misrepresented

AI-generated material must not be presented as:

• an official gameplay screenshot;
• a developer-supplied image;
• an authentic photograph of an event;
• documentary evidence;
• a real image of a person or location where that would mislead readers;
• proof that a feature exists in a game.

The visual style of an image does not change this requirement. A realistic image remains illustrative if it was generated rather than documented.

Labelling and Context

AI-generated imagery should be identified when it could reasonably be mistaken for official artwork, authentic photography, gameplay footage or documentary evidence.

The caption, image credit or surrounding context should make the illustrative nature clear where necessary.

Labelling should be understandable to an ordinary reader and should not rely on vague wording that hides how the image was created.

Editorial Uses Not Currently Permitted

NGB does not currently use AI for:

• article drafting;
• rewriting editorial copy for publication;
• translation;
• source summarisation;
• news or source monitoring;
• automatic fact-checking;
• fabricated interviews;
• invented first-hand testing;
• automatic review scoring;
• automatic ranking decisions.

These restrictions preserve human responsibility for the words, evidence and judgements published by NGB.

AI Is Not a Source

AI output is not an authoritative source and must not replace the original document, statement, test result or attributable reporting.

AI must not be used to fabricate:

• facts;
• sources;
• quotations;
• names or people;
• events or announcements;
• credentials or biographies;
• documents or datasets;
• review access;
• testing results;
• social profiles;
• official screenshots.

An AI-generated statement cannot be treated as confirmation merely because it sounds plausible or is repeated consistently.

Human Editorial Responsibility

Human editors remain responsible for:

• editorial judgement;
• topic selection;
• source verification;
• article accuracy;
• image selection;
• image labelling;
• publication decisions;
• corrections.

The use of an AI-generated image does not transfer responsibility away from NGB.

Human responsibility includes checking whether the image could create a misleading implication when placed beside a specific headline or article.

Real People and Sensitive Events

AI imagery involving identifiable people, allegations, accidents, safety incidents or sensitive events requires particular caution.

NGB should avoid creating a false impression that a real person performed an action, attended an event or appeared in a scene without reliable evidence.

An illustrative image should not intensify or visually invent an allegation that the article itself does not establish.

Game and Platform Imagery

An AI-generated interpretation of a game, console or interface must not be described as official design, confirmed gameplay or a leaked screenshot.

Where official screenshots or documentary images are necessary to establish the facts, an AI illustration should not replace them.

Generated imagery should not be used to claim that a platform feature, visual design or technical result has been confirmed.

Corrections and Reader Questions

Concerns about the labelling or accuracy of AI-generated material may be sent to:

[email protected]

Possible factual or image-description errors may be sent to:

[email protected]

Changes to This Policy

NGB should update this policy before expanding AI use into additional editorial workflows.

Any future changes should preserve human accountability, source verification and the prohibition against fabricated evidence.