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AI in the Academic Setting

Resources and information about generative AI including ChatGPT

May I use ChatGPT or other generative AI in my classes or research?

Different courses at Oxy have different policies!  You must always adhere to Oxy's Academic Ethics statement and the Shared Academic Integrity Commitment.  And, then you must always check the syllabus or assignment instructions for the course.  If you have any doubts, then ask your Professor!  If you are trying to publish your research, then check with the publisher.

Review this Student Guide to Artificial Intelligence before getting started for some helpful information and tips.

If you have been given permission to use generative AI, such as ChatGPT, for a course or if you plan to use it for your own personal projects, then please read on!

What is ChatGPT (generative AI) good for?

When you are using generative AI tools, you must think critically and evaluate the reliability, accuracy and context of the content generated.  You also need to consider the generative AI's strengths and weaknesses.  It is not good at everything!

Helpful features Limitations
Brainstorming Ideas Based on a limited and unknown set of data
Creating an outline for a paper or project Can generate false information including citing sources
Generating keywords for library database searches Includes biased information and reproduces errors from sources
Summarizing class notes or other text Extra time and effort needed to verify its accuracy
Creating practice quizzes More advanced/up-to-date generative AI tools are not free

 

Below is a quick and easy algorithm to follow if you have any doubts about whether or not ChatGPT will be helpful for you!

The Prompt is Key!

To get the best results from ChatGPT and other generative AI, you must carefully compose the question or statement that you enter into it.  This is known as prompt engineering.  

Here are some tips* for creating better ChatGPT prompts:

  1. Be clear and concise: The more specific you can be about what you want ChatGPT to do, the better results you will get.
  2. Provide context: Providing relevant context can help ChatGPT better understand what you’re looking for and generate more accurate responses.
  3. Use examples: Providing examples of the desired output can help ChatGPT better understand what you’re looking for and generate more accurate responses.
  4. Use language consistently: Use language that is consistent with the desired tone and style of the output you’re looking for. For example, if you want ChatGPT to generate marketing copy, use language that is consistent with marketing language.
  5. Experiment: Don’t be afraid to experiment with different types of prompts and see what works best for your specific use case.

* from ChatGPT prompt training tips guide, Innovation Training