Artificial intelligence has been all over the news and social media recently and it is tempting to use it for help with classwork. Before you use it for your class work, think of the following things.
What is your professor's policy on AI? It may be included on the professor's syllabus, but if not, ask first. Some professors have a hard prohibition against using AI, while others are more flexible.
Computers, even AI, do not think; they cannot read, write, or produce their own ideas. They have a complicated algorithm that puts data together mostly based on how often the key terms given show up together. This means AI cannot check its work and determine the accuracy of what it is providing. Sometimes the information AI puts together is so wrong the AI is lying or making things up.
Especially with debated topics, AI cannot filter out bias. Bias is "a particular tendency, trend, inclination, feeling, or opinion, especially one that is preconceived or unreasoned".
Points 2 and 3 mean that users of AI must be hyper vigilant when working with information provided by AI.
Above all users of AI must protect themselves and their data. So much of people's lives are lived online and on social media right now that they forget their information is valuable. Companies want to know everything about the people whose money they are going after, this includes extremely sensitive information (such as social security number, address, medical history, etc.) and AIs are controlled by those companies.
When using AI, students need to pay attention to:
Thinking Critically
When using AI, students need to pay attention to:
Protecting Their Data
When using AI, students need to pay attention to:
Avoiding Plagiarism