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Get Started with Artificial Intelligence

What are generative artificial intelligence tools?

Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools, like ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot, are large language models (LLMs) meant to predict text. They are trained on a large dataset of internet sources and analyze text (large language) to predict what word will likely come next. If you would like more information on how GenAI works, check out our FAQs.

Can I use GenAI in my academic work?

It depends. You must act with academic integrity, honesty, fairness, respect, and responsibility when completing your academic work. Otherwise, you may encounter issues like plagiarism or cheating. Before using it, ask yourself the following questions:

  • Has your instructor indicated its use is allowed? Have they set parameters for how it can be used?
  • Is the GenAI tool being used to do something you are being evaluated on? For example, if it is a writing assignment, you should not use it to create your essay, as that negates the point of the assignment.
  • Given the course objectives and grading rubric, does using GenAI violate academic integrity?
  • Does the content I am submitting to the GenAI tool include the intellectual property of others, does it violate any copyright restrictions or contain private data?
  • Are you comfortable revealing your use of GenAI to your instructor or university administrators?

GenAI tools are rapidly changing and improving. However, before using one, it is crucial to consider its limitations, benefits and ethical implications.

Limitations

  • False information (hallucinations or fabrications): GenAI has been programmed to respond, not be accurate. GenAI tools will also not always disclose where they're getting their information, or how it made its decisions, making it hard to evaluate their accuracy and reliability. Even if you request the tools to provide citations, they are notorious for fabricating references.
  • Embedded bias: GenAI's outputs depend upon the inputs or datasets used to train it. Using the Internet as training data means that GenAI tools can replicate the same biases and stereotypes found on the Internet.
  • Limited information: Most GenAI tools, especially free ones, have not been trained on current information. For example, as of 2023, ChatGPT 3.5 (the free version) was only trained on content from the open web through December 2021. Check the developer notes for information on the currency of the data on which the LLM is trained.
    • As of April 2024, the tools have more knowledge of STEM than humanities topics.
    • LLM literature search tools (like Elicit or Research Rabbit) can't access the full range of articles behind a paywall (like those in academic library databases).
  • Privacy and copyright: Any content you submit to a Large Language Model (LLM) may become a permanent part of its learning data.
    • Submitting data or resources (like a journal article) could violate copyright laws or institutional policies regarding information sharing.
    • The LLM's privacy policies may allow the GenAI tool creators to profit from or share your personal information.
    • U.S. laws about AI-generated content are evolving, and tools used to identify GenAI content are ineffective.
    • Content produced by the University, or by our students, is considered the intellectual property of the author and therefore is protected by patent, trademark, and copyright regulations. This content may not be used as input into any generative AI tool, such as ChatGPT or CoPilot.
  • Lack of creativity: GenAI content lacks the originality and critical thinking skills that make human-generated content unique.

Benefits

  • Writing assistance: Brainstorm ideas, fight writer's block, organize your thoughts, and draft an outline for your essay or research topic.
  • Simplifying concepts and ideas: Explain information in easier-to-understand language and adapt educational materials to individual learning needs.
  • Summarizing information: Paraphrasing and summarizing documents.
  • Research: Provide a list of keywords or search terms for your research and help you format citations in a specific style, like APA.
  • Accessibility: GenAI can provide alternative formats like screen reading and captioning tools to make educational materials more accessible.
  • Illustrating: Generate images for your presentation or to help you illustrate your work.
  • Translation and language learning: Translate documents into a different language or practice a foreign language. Use GenAI to create sentences and language exercises.
  • Study partner: Quiz you on topics and materials and prepare you for job interviews and other tasks.
  • Coding: Generate new code or clean up existing code.

Ethics

  • Academic integrity: The use of GenAI in the classroom is subject to the university’s Student Code of Academic Integrity. Students should consider the questions outlined in Can I use GenAI in my academic work? before using GenAI. Don’t use GenAI to plagiarize or cheat and always cite your sources, including the use of GenAI.
  • Bias and discrimination: GenAI is not governed by ethical principles, nor does it evaluate the information it is learning from. As a result, if a GenAI system is not carefully designed and monitored it will reinforce stereotypes in the content it produces. Consider who is represented in this data. Is the data inclusive in terms of the material’s scope and the perspectives that it presents? Critically evaluate GenAI-generated content for bias and correct it. If you are unsure if the content is biased, seek guidance from your instructor.
  • Privacy: The success of GenAI tools depends upon using large quantities of information. Anything submitted into most GenAI platforms becomes part of its knowledge base. Be cautious about anything you share with GenAI tools and make sure you understand the privacy and collection policies of the tools you use.
  • Commercialization: GenAI platforms are being developed by private companies, and while most have a free version of the platform, many offer subscription options with greater reliability. There is a risk that GenAI tools will exacerbate educational inequities and widen the digital divide. Understand the limitations of the GenAI platform you are using and encourage your peers in the fair and equitable use of GenAI tools.
  • Technological dependency: The overreliance on GenAI tools can hinder the ability to develop and apply research, writing and critical analysis skills. Use GenAI tools to support your creativity, and critically evaluate the content it produces.

Want to learn more?

Sage Campus offers two courses on GenAI to help you familiarize yourself with what it is and how to use it, both generally and as it applies to ChatGPT. The courses are free, but you will need to create a login and password to view them.

Tips for Using GenAI

Assess. Take the time to assess the GenAI tool's responses critically. Because it lacks critical thinking skills, its responses may not be logical or based on facts.

Explore. Do some exploratory work on a familiar topic to assess the quality of the tool's replies and validate the content by using trusted academic sources.

Cite. Cite your use of GenAI. You should cite anything created by someone else that isn't your original thought or common knowledge. Please review the Center for Writing Excellence for examples and guidance.

Ask. If in doubt, ask your instructor. They can tell you their preference for using GenAI tools in your work.

Evaluating GenAI