Generative AI is a term used to describe algorithms that are utilised to create new content such as text, images, audio or other formats such as code. These AI tools are evolving at an incredible pace and their impact on higher education is significant and growing.
Gen AI possesses the ability to learn, adapt and generate new content on its own. Within Gen AI, Large Language Models (LLM) such as Chat GPT and Bard have the ability to process natural language and are capable of understanding and generating human-like text. Natural Language Processing (NLP) algorithms are utilised to analyse and provide an interpretation of human language.
The use of Gen AI tools can help you improve your academic output such as assignments through the following means:
- Explaining a concept in more detail
- Summarising the key concepts on a topic
- Improving your writing skills
- Helping you draw up a study plan
- Allowing you to engage in more expansive discussion on a particular topic
There are inherent risks and limitations when using Gen AI tools. These include the following:
- Hallucinations: these occur when inaccurate information is utilised to provide false information and/or fake references that simply do not exist.
- Bias: information can be produced that contain pre-exiting biases such as bias related to race, culture, political bias etc
- Data Access Limitations: the Gen AL tool being used maybe limited in terms of accessing all available information on a topic area.
- Privacy concerns: significant concerns can arise around data protection and privacy. Users are strongly advised not to disclose any personal information when using these tools.
- Highest Probability Path: Gen AI tools generally pick the highest probability path, thus potentially denying the user the opportunity to consider less obvious approaches.
Source: SETU Student Guidelines on the use of Gen AI (available via Blackboard VLE).
For more information on using Gen AI in your assignments please see the SETU Student Guidelines on the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence available on Blackboard.
If using generative AI tools, the ethical and appropriate use of the generated information is crucial. Ultimately, it is your module lecturers who will determine how you may use Gen AI when completing your assignments, so it is imperative that you familiarize yourself with your assignment requirements. If permitted to use Gen AI, you must declare or acknowledge when Gen AI has being used and be transparent about how you have used it.
Misuse of Gen AI can include:
- Not your own work - presenting Gen AI generated material as your own work
- Not declaring where you have used Gen AI
- Replacement of your critical thinking ability - getting Gen AI to do the thinking for you
AI Literacy involves developing the ability to understand, recognise and critically assess how Gen AI tools are utilised and the accuracy of the information generated by these tools. Generative AI tools do not possess thinking skills and do not produce new knowledge. In terms of the ethical use of Gen AI, the responsibility rests with the user in terms of verifying the accuracy and reliability of supplied information.
Key questions to ask yourself when critically analysing the generated information include:
- Is the information authentic and accurate?
- Have you scutinised this information in terms of currency, accuracy, reliability and authority?
- Do any quoted references actually exist? Any supplied references can be checked for validity on subscribed Library databases and search discover tools such as Ebsco Connect.
There are many cases where a traditional search strategy (using a search engine or library tools) is much more effective and has the added benefit of identifying original sources and allowing you to make judgements about accuracy and quality as well as to provide due credit to the original authors. (NAIN Gen AL Guidelines).
