Refers to the process through which individuals knowingly and voluntarily agree to the use of AI technologies or the collection, recording, analysis, or sharing of their personal information through these technologies, after receiving clear and understandable information about their purpose, operation, potential risks, and implications.

In the learn-and-work ecosystem, informed consent is particularly relevant to educational research, student records, workplace monitoring, digital learning platforms, and AI technologies. For example, AI-enabled smart glasses, meeting transcription assistants, and other recording devices can capture conversations, images, and personal information about individuals who may not know they are being recorded or how the information will be used.

Informed consent is distinct from notifying someone that information is being collected. Legal requirements vary by jurisdiction, setting, and type of information, and consent is not always the required legal basis for collecting or processing personal data. Growing use of AI in educational and workplace environments has increased attention to informed consent as an important consideration in privacy protection, transparency, and responsible technology governance.

Not every use of AI legally requires individual consent. Requirements depend on the technology, jurisdiction, and circumstances. UNESCO's Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence recognizes informed consent as one possible legal basis for processing personal data.