Using AI tools for study

Artificial narrow intelligence (ANI)

ANI refers to systems that are programmed to perform a single task, using machine learning techniques such as supervised learning and reinforcement learning.  
Examples include image recognition in self-driving cars, recommendation systems when shopping online, or text prediction apps.  

Artificial general intelligence (AGI)

AGI is a theoretical type of AI that is able to perform any intellectual task in any situation, much like a human. 

Machine learning refers to a range of techniques to build systems that have the ability to learn and improve from experience, without being explicitly programmed to do so.  

Two common examples of machine learning are supervised learning and reinforcement learning.

Supervised learning

This is where a program is given data that has been labelled. From this, the program starts to recognise patterns, allowing it to predict or classify new information. Examples include image recognition, where programs are trained to recognise cats.  

Reinforcement learning

This involves giving the program feedback each time it performs a task, so that it learns from doing things correctly.  

Generative AI is a type of artificial narrow intelligence (ANI) where the program creates new content – either text or images – based on the data that is has been trained on.  

A recent example of generative AI is ChatGPT. ChatGPT has been trained on a massive amount of text from digital resources to recognise patterns in words and sentences. It provides responses to prompts by predicting the next likely word in a given context.  

You may also have heard of DALL-E, which was trained on a large set of image and text pairs to create new images based on textual descriptions.

You may consider using an AI tool only when it is permitted by your topic coordinator, and with proper acknowledgement of your use of AI.

You may be instructed or permitted to use AI platforms or tools during your topic or as part of an assessment piece. Read any instructions carefully and only use the tools in the manner prescribed. For example, a topic may permit the use of AI in some, but not all stages of an assessment task. If you are unsure, check with your topic coordinator.

Where use has been permitted, you must properly acknowledge any use of AI in the development of your assessment and provide an appropriate citation. 

Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT can be very useful to help you: 

• Understand complex concepts by explaining them in simpler terms
• Apply critical, creative and reflective thinking skills by generating and evaluating your prompts and the accuracy and relevance of the output
• Improve your written communication skills by refining your language and style
• Prepare for assessments by generating quizzes and flash cards to practice with. 

There are several instances where the use of AI tools may constitute academic misconduct, as per the University’s Student Academic Integrity Policy.  Academic misconduct means a student has not met the expected academic integrity requirements.

Examples include:

• Using AI tools beyond what is permitted by the topic coordinator. 
  Some topics may not allow the use of AI tools or may only allow their use with certain limitations. If the topic information or assessment instructions specify how AI tools can or cannot be used, be sure to stay within these limitations. If you do not and declare that you have complied with assessment requirements, this could constitute misrepresentation.  If you are unsure, check with the topic coordinator
• Submitting output generated by AI tools as your own work. This may include plagiarism (representing the work of another as if were your own original work), contract cheating (acquiring or commissioning work and submitting it as your own), or solicitation (procuring or otherwise engaging an entity to produce work for the purpose of cheating, misrepresentation, and/or plagiarism)
• Not properly acknowledging use of output from AI tools. You should not rely on output generated by AI tools without properly citing and acknowledging their use. Failure to do so may constitute plagiarism
• Sharing assessment questions or instructions with AI platforms or tools. University teaching material is supplied to you for your own study purposes only and should not be shared with anyone outside of the university, even AI programs.

If you use AI tools in the development of any part of your assessment, it is important to acknowledge them appropriately to avoid instances of academic misconduct.  

It is recommended that you do the following: 

• Ensure you cite content developed by these tools according to your topic’s preferred referencing style
• Provide a declaration acknowledging which AI tools have been used and how. This should be included either as a footnote or at the end of your reference list, as per your topic coordinator’s preference. For example: “I acknowledge the use of ChatGPT in the drafting and proofreading of this assignment.”

The APA 7 and Harvard referencing guides include information on acknowledging use of artificial intelligence. The Student Learning Support Service provides support with referencing and a Learning Advisor can help with specific questions around acknowledging AI.