New Report Guides Ethical AI Use in Esports

Ray Pastore, professor of instructional technology at UNCW’s Watson College of Education, and Seth Jenny, associate professor in the Department of Exercise Science at Slippery Rock University, have authored a new report establishing ethical guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence in esports.

Titled World Esports AI Ethics Guidelines Research Report, the study provides guidance for AI use in esports training and competition. The project was developed through a research and development initiative focused on promoting fair play, competitive integrity and responsible innovation in the rapidly growing esports industry. The report was released by the International Esports Federation in January.

“This was a large-scale study with international participation from game publishers, professional esports teams, players, researchers, medical professionals and legal experts,” Pastore said. “Seth and I are very proud of the work. As AI becomes a bigger part of esports, creating clear and ethical guidelines is essential to protecting players, organizations and the integrity of competition.”

The report outlines 27 guidelines designed to support responsible AI use in esports. It emphasizes fair play, competitive integrity and player welfare while encouraging innovation across the esports ecosystem. Practical examples and an application framework are included to help teams, organizers and governing bodies implement the recommendations.

The project was coordinated by the International Esports Federation, funded by Busan Metropolitan City in South Korea and supported by Voice of Intercollegiate Esports.

IESF announced the report in a Jan. 13 news release titled World Esports AI Ethics Guidelines Research Report Released.

About the Researchers

Pastore has taught instructional technology courses for more than two decades. He founded UNCW’s Esports Club in 2019 and launched the Watson College of Education’s esports certificate program in 2020. In 2023, he was named one of EdTech Magazine’s Higher Ed IT Influencers to Follow.

Jenny established an interdisciplinary esports minor at Slippery Rock University and serves as faculty advisor to the university’s esports club. He is a founding and current board member of the Esports Research Network and serves as associate editor for the Journal of Electronic Gaming and Esports.

About UNCW’s Esports Club

UNCW’s Esports Club is open to all students and welcomes both competitive and recreational gamers. In 2022, UNCW elevated its esports teams to varsity status and opened a new on-campus esports lab. The club now includes 10 competitive teams and a Discord community of more than 800 members.

About WCE’s Esports Certificate Program

The Watson College of Education’s esports certificate program is designed for individuals interested in gaming, streaming and careers in the esports industry. The curriculum focuses on four key areas of esports — strategists, organizers, content creators and entrepreneurs. New classes begin every semester. For more information, visit the UNCW Instructional Technology website.