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Generative AI Student Research Guide

--Using generative AI and explaining its impact on academic integrity and scholarship
  • Always check with your instructor before using generative AI tools to complete course work. If you are open with your instructor about your intentions and the reasons why you want to use AI, they might be willing to work with you to ensure academic integrity is upheld.
  • It's also important to remember that generative AI tools are capable of providing misleading, inaccurate, and unreliable information (sometimes referred to as "hallucinations"). Think of AI tools as a "know-it-all" friend: They're right sometimes, but even if they know they're wrong, they'll try to convince you otherwise.
  • If you choose to use these tools, it is on you to do so responsibly.
  • If you suspect inaccurate information, use other outlets to confirm the accuracy (ChatGPT is also known for making up sources). You don't want to end up like the lawyers who lost a case because they relied on ChatGPT.

Is using an AI or chat bot on an assignment plagiarism? 

  • By the strictest definition of plagiarism, it is plagiarism if you don’t cite it. The chatbot is the author of the text, not you, therefore you can’t claim that it is your own original work. This is similar to if you had given a human writer your topic and asked them to write a paper for you.
  • The chat bot is summarizing information for you. Its answers are only as accurate as the sources it selects and the quality of its summary. Much like human created content, a chatbot is only as credible as your ability to check its sources. Any lack of transparency should be regarded with skepticism.
  • Generally, using AI to brainstorm or explore concepts isn’t cheating if you use those ideas to inspire your original work.
  • The goal of education is learning. You should use AI as a tool to enhance your understanding and skills, not to bypass or shortcut the learning process.

Strengths of Using AI

  • Large Knowledge Base - Generative AI tools are trained on a vast amount of data, which enables it to have a broad knowledge base covering various topics, including history, science, technology, and more.
  • Language Generation -  They are capable of generating human-like responses on a wide range of topics. It can provide informative and coherent responses to various questions, engage in conversations, and provide relevant information. 
  • Versatility - They can be used for a wide range of applications, including answering questions, providing explanations, generating content, or offering suggestions.

Risks of Using AI

  • AI Models struggle to understand context or interpret nuances accurately and may make up stuff just to reply to your prompt.
  • They sometimes produce incorrect, biased or outdated information. Verify the accuracy of AI-generated content using reliable sources before including it in your work.
  • They may not always ask for clarifications when faced with ambiguous questions. You may need to refine prompts
  • There may be ethical concerns, such as bias, equity, and privacy concerns. When interacting with AI models, you should be cautious about supplying sensitive information, including personal, confidential or propriety information or data.

Copyright and AI

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