Using AI tools
Using AI tools for your studies can fall into appropriate or inappropriate categories. Find out about both categories below.
What is generative AI (GenAI)?
Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is a creative tool that will form written, aural or visual content. The content is generated when the user gives the tool written prompts.
Popular GenAI include ChatGPT, Google Gemini (formerly Google Bard) and Microsoft Copilot (formerly Bingchat) for written content, and Midjourney and DALL-E for image generation.
How do they work?
They are what's called Large Language Models (LLMs), which are "high-powered pattern recognition machines. The output they generate in response to a query is generated via probability: each word or part of an image is selected based on the likelihood that it appears in a similar image or phrase in its database" (Haggart, 2024, para. 5).
Can I use AI tools for my assignments?
AI technology is developing all the time and there is now a wealth of choice in AI-assisted tools that can help with assessments.
The short answer to the above question is sometimes, because it depends what you are using the tools for.
However, in the first instance, be sure to check with your teacher for guidance on whether generative AI can be used, how it can be used, and how to describe its usage within an assignment. Please be aware that generative AI is a tool and not an academic or original source. If you have used an AI tool in an assignment, you must cite and reference this tool according to APA guidelines.
You may be required to use AI tools as part of an assignment, but if their use is not specified, in order to decide if you are able to use them, you need to be aware of what is appropriate use, and what the issues/risks might be if you do use them, particularly for generative AI (GenAI) tools.
Risks of using AI tools for assignments
If it is discovered you have used AI technology in your assignment in a way that is unacceptable, you may be found guilty of academic misconduct. There are serious consequences for ākonga who are academically dishonest.
AI detection tools are developing at a fast rate and may be used to test past assignments.
Many generative AI tools are trained on data that has not been tested for accuracy, mis/disinformation or bias. Or the information could be out of date.
You must therefore check any information generative AI tools give you with sources that are reliable. Our advice? Save the workload and go straight to reliable sources.
Large language models, like ChatGPT work like predictive text on your phone. They provide answers based on data patterns and use prediction to fill any gaps. They are not designed as search tools. Their function is to generate and create.
Because of the way they work, they will often create information, as in make it up. These are called “hallucinations” and can include entire sources and references that do not exist.
Some tools may be trained on data that is licensed or copyrighted. While there is no clear legislation around generative AI training data yet, good academic practise would be to check how the model you are using is trained.
You also cannot rely on generative AI producing original work. It can produce work that is copied and is therefore plagiarised.
Don’t put your personal information or personal information of anyone else into generative AI tools. Some models, like Google Gemini, collect inputted data and sell it to third parties, or use inputted information/prompts to train its algorithms.
Our recommendation is to use Duck Duck Go AI chat. It anonymises your chats, so that private information is kept private, and it doesn't use data for training.
Appropriate and inappropriate use of AI tools
Below are some examples of appropriate and inappropriate uses of GenAI tools.
AI tools to check/improve writing quality
Some genAI tools can be useful help with spelling and grammar, but there some tools to avoid as well.
GenAI tools to avoid
Do not use generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, or Microsoft Copilot to check or improve the quality of your writing for the following reasons:
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Privacy and security - Anything you input into these AI models may be used for data training or sold to third parties. This means any personal information about yourself or anybody else you have included in your assignment is at risk of being freely available as 'searchable' information, or onsold to advertisers. Parts of your work could also be generated as an output to other users of the AI model.
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Turnitin AI count - You will get a very high, if not 100%, AI count.
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Paraphrasing risks - Your work must be your own words in your own voice. It may be very tempting to get AI tools to improve your writing, but anything beyond spelling and grammar checks may be considered plagiarism (not your own work).
Tools you can use
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MS Word - Use the spelling and grammar checks in Word. Avoid Add-in tools. These writing assistants go beyond spelling and grammar, and using them may be considered plagiarism (not your own work).
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Grammarly - Grammarly is an approved tool for checking spelling and grammar. See our advice below on using Grammarly safely and which tools inside Grammarly to avoid.
Using Grammarly to improve writing
Grammarly is an approved tool if used in the right way. It does use AI to detect areas of your work that need improvement, so it will produce an AI count via Turnitin. However, kaiako/teachers are aware of this and take it into consideration when reviewing AI use percentages.
You do not need to reference Grammarly if you use it for spelling and grammar only.
Appropriate use of Grammarly for assignments
Use Grammarly in the following way to avoid issues around academic misconduct:
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Turn off automatic suggestions that occur as you write - in other words, complete the first draft of your assignment without any help from Grammarly.
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Save this draft and keep it as a raw (untouched by Grammarly) document that you can produce as proof of your original work if you are interviewed by your kaiako about AI use.
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Use Grammarly for spelling and grammatical checks only by uploading your document to your Grammarly account.
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Save the edited version as a separate document to your original one.
Inappropriate use of Grammarly for assignments
You must produce writing that has been written by you and is in your own voice. Grammarly has new AI functionality, that if used, would produce writing that would not be considered your own.
Grammarly tools to avoid:
Using Quillbot or other paraphrasing tools
Quillbot is a paraphrasing tool. Using it is considered inappropriate use of AI. Remember, your assignment must be your own ideas in your own words. This is because you must demonstrate you understand the ideas and concepts you are writing about.
By using Quillbot, you are not demonstrating to your teacher/kaiako that you have understood the concepts in the original source.
Using reference managers
Reference managers, like Zotero, Mendeley and Endnote, are approved tools. They will produce an AI count in Turnitin, so make sure you add them to any AI Declaration of Use Statement you are required to give.
AI for research
Unfortunately, popular free generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Google Gemini are not reliable search engines. They work by making predictions based on data they have been trained on, rather than retrieving live information. Do not use them for finding information, because you will have to fact-check everything, which is a lot of work.
However, there are reliable AI tools that can help with certain types of research projects, including literature and systematic reviews.
Internet searches
For internet searching, use tools such as Microsoft Copilot or Perplexity, but be sure to click on the citations so that you use information directly from the original source.
For AI research tools for academic research purposes see the link below to Wintec's AI for research page.
References
Attributions
All written content from Academic Integrity: Using AI tools for assignments by Wintec LibGuides. Kind permission to reuse granted from Wintec.
Hero image: An artist’s illustration of artificial intelligence (AI) by Domhnall Malone, part of the Google DeepMind group. Licensed under Pexels.com licence.
Code projected over woman by ThisisEngineering. Licensed under Pexels.com licence.
Robot pointing on a wall projection by Tara Winstead. Licensed under Pexels.com licence.
