AI & Academic Integrity

Generative artificial intelligence or AI tools permit users to generate a wide variety of original texts or works. These AI systems are trained using advanced algorithms to convey large amounts of information and data. This allows them to analyze, understand, and react to natural language prompts put in by humans. ChatGPT is one example of a generative AI tool. A user can ask an AI tool questions, give it creative prompts, and use it to generate written responses and artwork in different forms and types. 

At UDST, the course instructor will be the one to tell you exactly if, when, where, and how they want you to use AI. There are appropriate ways of using AI in the classroom. They are:

• As learning tool to develop knowledge and understanding. 
• To understand a concept/topic/unit you are studying. 
• To form background knowledge. 
• To get feedback on your ideas and writing. 
• To complement other research and sources of information.
• Use an appropriate reference or citation to acknowledge work created by an AI platform. 

AI is not considered a reliable source of information. It often makes mistakes and can create hallucinations where it presents incorrect and misleading information as fact. These errors are caused by many different factors, such as insufficient training data, bases in the data, or incorrect assumptions made by the AI. Because of this, any information that comes from an AI tool requires further checking and corroboration. Be suspicious of sources that seem biased or unreliable. Verify any information you plan to use in your own work. If you do decide to use an AI tool in your work, it should be cited in a bibliography as one of the sources. 

There are also inappropriate ways of using AI in the classroom. They are:

• Using AI to impersonate yourself in classroom contexts, such as answering discussion board posts or answering questions in a Zoom chat. 
• Completing group work that your group has assigned to you, unless it is mutually agreed upon that you may use the tool. 
• Writing a draft of a writing assignment. 
• Writing entire sentences, paragraphs, or papers to complete class assignments. 
• Using AI to generate all your ideas. You should still come up with your own ideas and use your own critical thinking skills. 
• Using AI to generate all the answers to problems or issues.