Choosing to use AI is up to you! But we can help you make that choice an informed one.
It is important to weigh all factors such as ethical concerns, the limits and benefits of AI, and the specific context of application before choosing to use AI. Below you will find a variety of resources that give guidance and support to deciding when you should or should not use AI, as well as tips on how to use AI ethically.
If you plan to use it for an assignment, always speak with your professor for guidance and be transparent about the use. Also be sure to consult MICA's AI Policy to assure your use of AI is ethical and appropriate. Information on how to cite AI use can be found here.
Whether or not you choose to use AI, building the skill sets to become AI literate will be crucial to navigating this ever-changing technological landscape. AI literacy means understanding how AI functions and creates information, how to use it ethically, and how to critically engage with both information about AI and the information it generates. To learn more check out Become AI Literate.
Deciding to Use AI
When deciding to use AI, remember the limitations of AI and what it is not able to do:
- GenAI is not always good at understanding complex topics and is better suited to reframing them.
- The accuracy of the worked created is questionable and requires constant validation.
- There is the potentials for biased data being fed into the Large Language Model the tool is trained on.
- Hallucinations and fabrications can arise, meaning the GenAI will make up non-sensical or fake responses.
- Be careful what you enter into a GenAI tool, many privacy or content policies from these companies will claim intellectual property ownership over your prompts.
From McGill University
Tips for Using AI Ethically in Coursework
Use of generative AI in your learning and study process should be ethical, productive, and uphold critical thinking. Below are some general principles to consider when using generative AI in your studies.
1. Ensure your use of AI follows the guidelines given for the particular course, unit, and assessment
- Follow your instructor’s guidance on exactly what and how generative AI tools can be used during assessments for your unit.
- Ensure that any use of generative AI has been acknowledged according to unit's or institution's policies and guidelines.
- Use of AI in a way that is not consistent with policies and guidelines may result in a finding of academic misconduct.
2. Keep track throughout your assignment process of the ways you have used generative AI
- Save copies of each step to create a record that can be shared with instructors to facilitate respectful conversations about your work. For example, keep copies of your previous drafts before and after interacting with generative AI. It's a good idea to keep a copy of your conversations with generative AI as well, if possible.
3. Ensure that your final work is your own and is not copy and pasted from a generative AI tool
- Your own style and voice should be evident.
- Simply rephrasing AI-generated content is not enough for it to be considered your own work! You must still apply your own critical thinking and logical reasoning to write assignments and, most importantly, ensure learning.
4. Exercise critical thinking and disciplinary expertise when considering AI-generated information
- It is important to fact-check the information you receive. Note the limitations of generative AI, including that content generated by AI may not be up to date, content generated by AI may not be accurate, and its limited ability to provide a reliable source for the information it outputs.
5. Be wary of biases in the generative AI you are using
- AI tools may align with commercial objectives or political prejudices.
- Apply critical thinking at all times: analyse and contextualise AI's outputs, and cross-verify any information AI gives you.
- Form your own perspective.
From University of Sydney's Canvas Course "AI in Education"
