"When we say GenAI “refusal,” we are talking about the range of ways that individuals and/or groups consciously and intentionally choose to refuse GenAI use, when and where we are able to do so. In other words, refusal is not monolithic."

Sano-Franchini, J., McIntyre, M., & Fernandes, M. (2024). Refusing generative AI in writing studies: A quickstart guide. Retrieved September 24, 2025, from https://refusinggenai.wordpress.com/

"AI refusal can refer to a spectrum of approaches to AI, whether that’s refusing to use AI tools entirely, refusing the use of AI as much as possible, refusing to prioritize the use of AI, refusing to accept either boosterism or doomer narratives, refusing to accept the idea that AI is inevitable, or some other refusal."

Fox, V. (2025, June 11). AI refusal in libraries: A starter guide. ACRLog. https://acrlog.org/2025/06/11/ai-refusal-in-libraries-a-starter-guide/

AI Resistance... "encompasses a broad spectrum of attitudes and actions, including public protests, legal challenges, critical scholarship, grassroots advocacy, and other forms of opposition that contest the development, deployment, and various consequences of technologies commonly categorised as AI.

Our research uncovered five widespread causes of resistance: (i) socio-economic concerns including job displacement, (ii) ethical concerns including bias, lack of transparency and harms to human dignity, (iii) safety concerns, (iv) threats to democracy and sovereignty, and (v) environmental concerns."

Şimşek, Can and Yasar, Ayse Gizem, From Rejection to Regulation: Mapping the Landscape of AI Resistance (May 27, 2025). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=5287068 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5287068