Academic Integrity

Although it seems like AI spontaneously appeared one day, AI tools have been an integral part of our lives for years. There is a difference between what the tech industry calls "traditional AI" and the generative AI that is the new big thing. MIT's xPRO blog, The Curve, explains that traditional AI is able to complete tasks based on already existing information, but can't create a new output, while generative AI takes information and offers a new piece of content (2024). 

Traditional AI tools include recommendation algorithms on social media, Siri or Alexa, predictive text, and even the spam filter in your email. 

Generative AI tools include ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Dall-E, and Grok. 

Traditional AI tools are not usually a concern for academic integrity, as they can't create new output. 

Source: 

MITxPRO. (2024, October 22nd). Exploring the shift from traditional to generative AI. The Curve. https://curve.mit.edu/exploring-shift-traditional-generative-ai 

Every professor will have slightly different policies about when and how generative AI tools can be used for their classes. These variations are one of the many reasons you should read the syllabus for each class carefully and make sure you understand the expectations of your work. If your professor does not allow any generative AI use, do not use it. 

One major constant that you find across generative AI policies is the requirement to cite your AI tool usage. Any information you get from a generative AI tool needs to be cited just like information from any other source. For detailed information about how to cite generative AI in APA style, visit our citation guide. You will likely also be asked to include an explanation of how generative AI was used in the creation of your assignment. Failure to cite generative AI use or explain how it was used when required to do so is considered academic dishonesty.

Read VCSU's General Purpose Usage of AI OneStop article for more advice on how to use generative AI appropriately.