Artificial Intelligence
What is AI?
There is no standard definition of AI, nor is there a single specific use for it. The term Artificial Intelligence essentially describes technologies that accomplish tasks normally performed by human intelligence, but while humans actually use cognitive functions, AI just seems to and uses others means to produce a result. That said, a type of AI called machine learning may also learn more about how to perform that task each time it does it.
AI is becoming integrated into modern life, you may not even realise you're using it. AI ranges from voice assistants such as Apple's Siri and Amazon's Alexa, to autonomous vehicles and large language models (LLMs), such as Google Gemini. LLMs are the basis for Generative AI.
Generative AI (GAI) is a form of AI that can complete multiple tasks, such as creating text or images based upon prompts and instructions, using predictions (algorithms) and the resources it's been trained on. You may already have experienced AI in this form with ChatGPT or Copilot, or through an image tool such as DALL-E.
AI generated image
AI in Education
AI can be very helpful for assisting with gathering thoughts, widening ideas and suggesting new directions to research. But it can also write plausible sounding text on any topic and generate answers to a range of questions, including coding and mathematics. This makes it both useful and risky.
While AI can be a valuable tool for enhancing productivity and efficiency, it should never be used as a shortcut to circumvent the learning process or deceive others about your level of understanding.
Ways to use AI productively - and ethically!
- Use AI to formulate ideas and help create structures for essays and assignments. Generative AI is quite effective at producing outlines as a starting point for the student.
- You can use AI to provide feedback on writing. AI can proofread, make corrections, comment on style and content. But do explain that you used AI for such feedback!
- Use AI for research, but with caution! It has limitations and can give misinformation as if it were fact. This is knows as hallucinations.
- You can generate images to add to assignments (not if the creation of an image is the assignment, of course, such as in art classes). But do beware of possible copyright concerns.
However:
- do not have AI write your assignments for you - this is Plagiarism.
- do not post personal data about yourself or others into ChatGPT or other GAI tools - it may end up part of the data.
- do not post work that is not your own into GAI - you do not have that right.
- do be alert to hallucinations - these happen because GAI is based on LLMs that compare relationships of words and phrases in text and gives you something plausible; it does not know facts or correct answers. Always double-check what it tells you.
- do be aware of cultural and political biases that might be reflected in the results - such as assumptions that a scientist might be a man, etc.
Remember, you need to know your subject to pick up on these problems, so it can't replace doing the work to find out and know about your subject.
As you can see, there are a lot of unknowns and grey areas all around the use of AI. The rule is always: If you're unsure about how to incorporate AI into your assignments ethically and effectively, seek guidance from your lecturers, tutors, academic advisors, or university resources. Always start with your university's own policies and guidance.
[Link to institutional information about AI]
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