Generative AI

At the University of Chicago, as is the case at most academic institutions, plagiarism is considered a violation of the university’s regulations and policies and can result in punitive action. Utilizing content from an AI tool without proper attribution is considered plagiarism. For more information on how to cite AI, please consult the How to Cite AI subheading of this guide. 

Beyond attribution, the University of Chicago does not have a set policy on AI tools in the classroom. As such, it is up to each instructor how they would like to approach the topic. As a student, it is always a good idea to ask your instructor before using an AI tool for an assignment, especially if the syllabus for the class doesn’t mention the class policy on AI. For instructors interested in how to incorporate an AI policy into your syllabus, the University of Chicago Center for Teaching in Learning has a resource available on its Course and Syllabus Guidance page. 

In addition to these considerations, below are some best practices related to AI and Academic Integrity: 

• Check all sources cited by the tool: As mentioned earlier in this guide, AI tools tend to hallucinate sources and information. When using a response in your research, it is paramount that you check any source referenced as well as factual claims made in a response.  
• If you have questions about an AI policy, ask instead of assuming: The University has no set policy on AI, meaning it is up to each instructor to determine a policy for their course. This can differ from instructor to instructor and even from course to course. If you would like to use AI for any part of your learning process related to a course at the university, you should first ask your instructor what their policy is on the use of generative AI tools. 
• Reflect on what information was shared after each response: Just as you would keep track of where you got information when reading academic literature on a topic, it is best practice to keep track of the information you retrieved from generative AI. Most AI tools will save your conversation to be referenced later.

While the landscape around AI in higher education continues to evolve, there are many applications of AI that provide unique learning opportunities. Students interested in these tools should be encouraged to explore how AI can help them in achieving their learning goals. Remember, if you plan to use a tool for bettering your understanding of class material, it is best practice to ask if there is no clear policy on the use of AI tools. Below are just a few examples of how you can use AI to learn or practice new concepts. 

AI and Language Learning 

ChatGPT and other generative AI tools can be used for conversation practice, text generation with specific vocabulary lists, explaining concepts such as the subjunctive tense, and providing feedback on your writing. 

Writing Help 

Generative AI can help you hone your writing skills. You can input a text you’ve written and ask for corrections and suggestions. It’s often more helpful to have the tool explain what, if anything, it changed for you to better learn what types of mistakes you make.  

It is important to note that AI tools are not professional editors. It may be that a revision ChatGPT doesn’t make sense to include or is less clear than the original text. This is one of the reasons it’s better to have a record of what was changed and why. 

Demonstrating Understanding 

Generative AI tools can be useful in determining your level of understanding on a topic. You can use a tool such as ChatGPT to play the role of a student learning the topic you want to discuss or an instructor assessing your understanding. Generative AI tools can also be used to generate examples of concepts to deepen your understanding around a topic. 

Instructors interested in incorporating AI into their courses have many resources available to them at the Center for Teaching and Learning, Academic Technology Solutions, and the Center for Digital Scholarship. Below are some helpful resources within and outside of the university to get you started: