Understand what Generative AI can do 

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) analyses large amounts of data to mash up content, responding to human prompts in software programs or through chatbots. GenAI can translate languages, create text, images, audio and other media, as well as answer questions.  They can be helpful for students, teachers, and researchers.  

Important UTAS links:

• What are the rules for student use of Generative AI at university?  Go to the Student Portal.  
• What is the Guidance for university teaching staff?  
• What details must researchers pay attention to? Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Research 

Acknowledge your use of Generative AI

The university expects students who use GenAI to adopt scholarly conventions when submitting assessments. Students should credit the use of such tools in their work in the same way that authors of journal articles or scholarly book chapters explain their usage of GenAI in their methods, appendices, tables, or figures. Follow advice from a lecturer or unit coordinator on how to do this correctly for each MYLO unit, to see whether GenAI usage is permitted, not permitted or is expected to be used for assessment tasks. 

[Examples of scholarly literature that acknowledge use of GenAI can be found in repositories and databases such as ACM Digital Library, arXiv, and IEEE Xplore] 

Remember Generative AI output is not a source 

GenAI, despite its impressive capabilities, is not a primary source of information and the output from GenAI should not be cited or referenced in student work.  

GenAI does not create new information; it just reorganises existing data in response to human prompts. The GenAI systems and tools lack the authority, accountability and original thought that characterise legitimate sources. 

Citing the output of an AI chatbot as a source would be akin to citing a search engine or language translation tool. The university regards GenAI tools merely as an intermediary, not an original creator. 

Sometimes the GenAI software and large language models might need to be cited. Follow style guidance from the American Psychological Association 7th ed.(McAdoo, 2024), Chicago 17th ed. (University of Chicago, 2023) or the Modern Language Association 9th ed. (MLA Style Center, 2023) - see below. 

Think critically about the information from GenAI tools 

The output of GenAI must be treated with scepticism. The software companies that develop the large language models behind GenAI tools explicitly state that AI-generated content can be unreliable, biased or fabricated (Anthropic, 2024; OpenAI, 2023). 

When researchers and authors use GenAI as a tool for brainstorming or initial exploration, always verify information obtained through GenAI by checking credible, primary sources. The library subscribes to scholarly databases where you can do this. 

The responsibility for the accuracy, ethics, and originality of the work remains with the human author, who must apply their own knowledge, critical thinking, and judgment to the information at hand - that is you, regardless of whether you are student, a researcher or a professor in a discipline taught at this institution. 

For more information on responsible Generative AI use, refer to the University Guidelines on Responsible and Ethical use of Generative AI for All Staff. 

NOTE: Given the rapidly evolving nature of this domain, information presented here may quickly become outdated or need revision. We strive to keep this guide current, but readers (students, researchers and teaching staff alike) should be aware that frequent updates and amendments are likely. 

GenAI chatbots Google Gemini and Microsoft Copilot have been used to refine arguments in this introduction. 

References 

Anthropic. (2024, June 13). Consumer terms of service. https://www.anthropic.com/legal/consumer-terms 

McAdoo, T. (2024, February 23). How to cite ChatGPT.  https://apastyle.apa.org/blog/how-to-cite-chatgpt 

MLA Style Center. (2023, March 17). Ask the MLA: How do I cite generative AI in MLA style? https://style.mla.org/citing-generative-ai/ 

OpenAI. (2023, November 14). Terms of use. https://openai.com/policies/terms-of-use/ 

University of Chicago. (2023). Citation, documentation of sources. Chicago Manual of Style Online. https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/qanda/data/faq/topics/Documentation/faq0422.html