What is Generative Artificial Intelligence?
Generative AI (GenAI) is an Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology that automatically generates content in response to prompts written in natural language conversational interfaces. Learn more on the Seneca Libraries guide to Generative Artificial Intelligence.
There are challenges and opportunities for the use of GenAI in research assignments, and including clear instructions around acceptable and/or unacceptable uses of GenAI can help reduce ambiguity for students.
Challenges
GenAI is often not considered a good source for research papers. It may:
- Make up content and references that are incorrect
- Lack the latest information and research
- Contain built-in bias
Opportunities
GenAI may be helpful in certain stages of the research process, including:
Assignment Instructions
For research assignments, it may be helpful to include guidelines around acceptable and/or unacceptable uses of GenAI. Faculty are welcome to copy any of the following instructions, and adapt it to suit their specific assignments.
Phrases to adapt in assignment instructions:
(If use of GenAI is acceptable)
- The use of generative artificial intelligence tools, such as ChatGPT, are permitted in this assignment; however, details on how GenAI was used, and how the output was incorporated in the submission, must be documented.
- In the assignment submission, include an Appendix with details describing the prompts used and the modifications made to the GenAI output.
- When citing AI-generated text, remember to include both in-text and references list citations. For more information, see the examples on the Seneca Libraries APA or MLA guide.
- Always fact-check GenAI. Students are responsible for the accuracy of their assignments.
- Explore the Seneca Libraries guide to Generative Artificial Intelligence to learn more.
(If use of GenAI is acceptable only for certain parts of the assignment)
- Generative artificial intelligence tools, such as ChatGPT, may only be used as part of the brainstorming and idea formation parts of the assignment.
- If you use GenAI, include a description of how you used AI within your work.
- ChatGPT cannot be used as one of the research sources and GenAI-created text cannot be used in the assignment submission. Use Seneca Libraries resources or other credible sources as your research sources.
- Explore the Seneca Libraries guide to Generative Artificial Intelligence to learn more.
(If use of GenAI is not acceptable)
- The use of generative artificial intelligence tools, such as ChatGPT, cannot be used in any part of this assignment.
