This guide is about generative AI which includes large language model chatbots like ChatGPT. The guide explains what the tools are, how they work and how to use them effectively and ethically.
DMU recognises that some generative AI tools can help develop academic skills. However, using the output produced by generative AI tools as if it was your own would be in direct contravention of Chapter 4 of the university regulations and will be considered an academic offence.
See DMU's Academic Integrity website for developing good academic practice skills and the using AI ethically section for advice and guidance.
Generative AI is a branch of artificial intelligence that can create new content such as images, text, or music. It works by learning patterns and structures from existing data. Because the content that it produces looks and sounds like it was made by humans, it is tempting to assume that the answers it produces are always reliable. However, generative AI like ChatGPT simply generates the most plausible answer (a kind of powerful autocomplete) based on the large corpus of data it is trained on. It has no conception of truth.
AI tools are very powerful and it is important to use them ethically. In an education setting, this means using them with academic integrity and within the expectations set by the university. You need to ask yourself whether you are using AI tools to do the thinking for you or simply to assist you in thinking better. If you have been permitted to use AI tools in your work there are ways to acknowledge and referencing their use.
AI can potentially be very useful, but you need to learn to use it effectively and critically. This involves asking 'good' questions and evaluating the answers. As AI can be unreliable you also always need to fact check its answers
Generative AI is changing all the time and there are a huge number of tools available. Some tools can help with finding academic papers whilst others can help with generating images, summarising, making sense of materials and proofreading.
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