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AI & the Academy

Should I Use AI?

Citing AI

Ethical AI

Using AI Ethically

  • Check departmental/instructor policies on AI use; follow all guidance from your instructor
  • Look over the Terms of Use for the AI tool you want to use; be aware of how the tool may use your prompts and data
  • Write effective, specific prompts, ensuring you don’t share private information
  • Double-check the output of AI tools for accuracy & bias
  • Check any sources provided by the AI tool
  • Cite your use of AI, including the prompts you use

Questions to ask before using an AI tool:

  • What data is this tool collecting? [Hint: read the terms and conditions of use]
  • How is this data being used? What am I consenting to by using these tools?
  • Who has access to this data? What might they use it for?
  • How can I write prompts to avoid giving away any personal or identifying data?

Questions to consider when using an AI tool:

  • Who created this tool?
  • What data was this tool trained on?
  • How can I recognize biased information?

Questions to ask when using AI tools:

  • How does this tool generate material?
  • What are the limitations of this tool?
  • Is the AI-generated content accurate? How can you test or assess the accuracy?
  • Can other credible sources (outside of generative AI) validate the data or item produced?
  • How does the information generated impact or influence your thinking on this topic?

Questions to consider when using AI tools:

  • Whose work might this tool have been trained on?
  • Who may not be getting credit for their work?
  • Am I searching for information I can find in other places, by people whose work I can credit?

Questions to consider when using AI tools:

  • How much energy does each query use?
  • What sort of energy does the tool use?
  • Do AI tools encourage more consumption of materials & energy?
  • Can AI be used to mitigate environmental problems?