Artificial Intelligence: A Guide for Students

You may use an AI tool like ChatGPT without breaching academic integrity in the following ways: 

If your instructor allowed it and you use it exactly as approved 

• You must ensure that you use only the AI tool that was approved AND that you only use it in the way it is allowed. For example, if your professor says that you can ask ChatGPT to come up with five arguments for and five against recycling, but that you then must discuss them critically yourself using sources you found through the TRU Library's Discover search tool, you are only allowed to ask ChatGPT for the arguments. You would NOT be allowed to ask ChatGPT to discuss the arguments it came up with. We suggest that you include an acknowledgment of how you used the AI, including your prompt(s) and the generated output with your assignment (see the Citing AI page). You also need to properly cite the output ChatGPT created, and of course, the resources you found in the library as well. 

As a study aid to prepare for exams

• Generative AI can generate quizzes and questions that you can use to practice and prepare for exams. However, you cannot upload content your professor created without their consent as otherwise you may be infringing on their copyright. So, before uploading any course materials you MUST ask your instructor if you can do so. 

As a study aid to improve your understanding

• You may ask generative AI to explain concepts and theories that you are having a hard time understanding in plain language or in different ways. Note that you must evaluate the generated content for accuracy and that you cannot use it in your assignment, unless you have permission from your instructor to do so.

As an example to use for critical discussion

• You may use AI generated output if your professor permitted you to use it to discuss it critically. For example, if you are permitted to prompt ChatGPT to write a poem in the style of Susan Glickman or prompt DALL-E to create an image in the style of Dorothy Knowles, and include the output in your work to discuss it's style, etc. You should still include an acknowledgement of how you used the AI tool and a citation for the output (see the Citing AI page). If you are using generated images, audio files, and/or codes, check if your AI tool mentions any use or copyright restrictions on the works it creates.