Westmoreland County Community College Library: Generative AI Faculty Research Guide: Intro to Generative AI

PSEA Artificial Intelligence Task Force: Impact Report and Recommendations
The task force, comprised of members from all PSEA regions including Student PSEA, ESP, Higher Education, and PSEA-Retired, met five times in 2024. They evaluated information from a variety of sources. This included careful alignment with the PSEA Mission, Vision, Values, and Goals. The task force agreed that any guidance must be tied to three principles:
- Teaching and learning must be protected as human activities.
- AI must be used ethically.
- We must continuously learn, assess, and evaluate the use of AI.
The AI Task Force will continue to meet throughout the 2025-26 school year and update the report as AI is rapidly changing by the day.

What is Generative AI?

Generative AI, short for Generative Artificial Intelligence, refers to a class of artificial intelligence algorithms and models that can generate new content, such as images, text, music, videos, and more, that is similar to the data it was trained on. Unlike traditional AI systems that are designed to recognize patterns or make decisions based on existing data, generative AI is capable of creating new data from scratch.
One of the fundamental techniques used in generative AI is the generative model, which is a type of machine learning model that learns to model the underlying distribution of the training data. These models are trained on large datasets and learn the patterns and features within that data in order to generate new data points that resemble the original data.
Generative AI has found applications in various fields, such as creative content generation, data augmentation for training other AI models, generating realistic images for computer graphics, and even assisting in drug discovery through molecule generation.
However, it's essential to note that with the power to generate realistic content, generative AI also raises concerns about potential misuse, such as deepfake generation and fake news propagation. As the technology advances, ethical considerations and responsible use become critical to harness its benefits responsibly.

A Generative AI Primer
Intended as a short introduction to generative AI, this explores some of the main points and areas relevant to education including the implications of Generative AI on education. It is updated as needed.
What is RAG?
Retrieval Augmented Generation
Includes a great explanatory video from an IBM research scientist.

AI Holds Promise for Education - and Creates Problems
Everyone Is Cheating Their Way Through College: ChatGPT has Unraveled the Entire Academic Project
EXCELLENT ARTICLE!!!!
5/5/2025
Making AI Generative for Higher Education Adoption and Challenges Among Instructors and Researchers
5/1/2025
Shaping the Future of Learning: The Role of AI in Education 4.0
4/2024.
- This links to an overview.
- If you are interested in more detaiils, there is a link to the entire report.
- Explores the potential for artificial intelligence to benefit educators, students and teachers. Case studies show how AI can personalize learning experiences, streamline administrative tasks, and integrate into curricula.

Brave New Words by Salman Khan
Call Number: LB1028.43 .K53 2024

Salman Khan, the visionary behind Khan Academy, explores how artificial intelligence and GPT technology will transform learning, and offers a road map for teachers, parents, and students to navigate this exciting (and sometimes intimidating) new world. A pioneer in the field of education technology, Khan examines the ins and outs of these cutting-edge tools and how they will revolutionize the way we learn and teach. He emphasizes that embracing AI in education is not about replacing human interaction but enhancing it with customized and accessible learning tools that encourage creative problem-solving skills and prepare students for an increasingly digital world.

Have ideas or suggestions? We encourage recommendations for additional resources not currently listed in this guide. Members of the college community are encouraged to email suggestions to library@westmoreland.edu