Generative AI

This resource will help you to: 

• enhance your understanding what generative artificial intelligence and academic integrity are. 

• learn when it is appropriate to use generative artificial intelligence. 

• apply generative artificial intelligence tools to enhance your studies in an ethical and responsible manner.  

Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to technologies that can learn and perform tasks typically done by humans and is often used in data analysis and automation. Generative AI produces and creates new content (text, images, sound, video) based on user-generated prompts. Some examples of generative AI tools are:

• ChatGPT
• Microsoft CoPilot
• Dall-E2
• Lumen5

In contrast, non-generative AI analyses data and makes predictions without creating new content. Examples of tools that use non-generative AI include search engines and plagiarism detectors, like Turnitin. 

Please see the UniSC guidelines on the responsible and ethical use of artificial intelligence tools. 

UniSC expects that all students act with academic integrity, as outlined in our Student Charter.

Academic integrity refers to taking an ethical, honest and responsible approach to study and research. Some of the ways you can show academic integrity are:

• acknowledging sources with appropriate citations and references.
• following agreements regarding group work.
• ensuring you follow the guidance about when it is appropriate to use generative AI.

Failure to act with academic integrity can have severe consequences including failing assessments or your course (see the policy, section 6.2.3).

Unauthorised use of generative AI or paraphrasing tools can be a form of plagiarism, cheating or fraud and could result in academic misconduct. 

The unauthorised use of generative AI in the completion of your assessment can be associated with academic misconduct as it can violate the principles of academic integrity. Here’s why: 

• Fraud or misrepresentation: Submitting work generated by AI as your own misrepresents your abilities and understanding. Assessments are meant to evaluate your knowledge and skills, not the capabilities of a generative AI.
• Plagiarism: Using AI-generated content can lead to plagiarism, as you might inadvertently present someone else’s work or ideas without appropriate acknowledgement.
• Cheating: By presenting AI-generated content as your own, you are cheating through dishonesty, subsequently gaining an unfair advantage.  

Relying on generative AI, particularly early in your program, deprives you of the learning experience and the opportunity to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Having foundational knowledge of your discipline will support you in critically evaluating the information provided by generative AI tools and recognising when AI has generated misleading or false information.

Generative AI can enhance your study if used with academic integrity. The video (2:48 min) below summarises how AI can be used responsibly within your studies.

1. Check: Before using any generative AI tools, you must check your task instructions and identify if or how generative AI can be used for the assessment. Each task may allow a different level of generative AI use, so you must check every task individually. 
2.  Acknowledge: Where generative AI is permitted, you will be required to acknowledge how you have used these tools. Examples of how to acknowledge the use of generative AI can be found in Acknowledge Generative AI. 
3. Use it wisely: Where permitted, generative AI tools should be used as supplementary learning aids. Review outputs critically, as generative AI can produce misleading or false information. Use only those concepts relevant to your coursework and assignment requirements. Always ensure your work is supported by scholarly literature, including relevant course readings. 

You must always check if and how the use of generative AI is permitted as some may not be permitted for particular assessment items. Where permitted, AI can be used to improve your study in a variety of ways. The AI Tools webpage by Futurepedia has a comprehensive list of current applications that can assist you with your studies, including productivity tools, research assistance, prompt generators, video tools and audio generators.

• Find out more about using and acknowledging generative AI with the UniSC Library. 
• Learn more about ethics in the age of generative AI with LinkedIn Learning.
• Grow your knowledge of responsible AI use with LinkedIn Learning.