This page contains guidance on Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools (e.g., ChatGPT, DALLE-2, Microsoft Bing, Google Gemini etc.) for students. It is intended to help students develop a better understanding of these tools, including their capabilities and limitations, and to encourage responsible use of these tools.
Generative AI tools use artificial intelligence techniques to generate new content such as text, audio, music, images, computer programming code etc. in response to user prompts (Lawton, 2023). This technology has been around for many years but has recently seen some very important advancements, especially through the introduction of ChatGPT (based on GPT-3.5) in November 2022. In particular, ChatGPT has made access to the technology simpler and (mostly) free of charge.
ChatGPT (and other similar Generative AI tools) is an AI chatbot built on a large language model trained on huge datasets available on the Internet. The model is trained on conversational data to make it understand and generate human-like text. Users use text prompts to ask the chatbot questions and it then produces content based on what it has learnt from the datasets. ChatGPT generates patterns of text on a probabilistic basis similar to the ‘autofill’ or ‘next-word prediction’ in your email and smartphone. However, ChatGPT does not understand what it is producing, and it does not check sources for bias or factual correctness. Furthermore, the model may also have been trained using copyrighted material which may consequently form part of the replies produced by ChatGPT. This may give rise to issues related to infringement of copyright.
The following unacknowledged use of Generative AI tools is allowed unless your tutor specifies otherwise:
Although Generative AI tools can support some aspects of your learning, there are also limitations and risks which you need to be aware of (refer to FAQ 4).
Before you start working on materials submitted for assessment, you are required to check with your tutor if Generative AI tools can be used to produce answers in summative assessments (refer also to FAQ 3). If the use of AI tools is allowed, your tutor will provide guidance on how to acknowledge their use.
All work submitted for assessment should be solely your own original work, or in the case of group work, solely the work of the group. Unless explicitly allowed by your tutor, if you use AI tools to assist with the completion of an assignment (or part of an assignment) and submit this as if it was your own work, this will be considered plagiarism.
The University Assessment Regulations (2009) [PDF] define plagiarism “as the unacknowledged use, as one's own, of work of another person, whether or not such work has been published, and as may be further elaborated in Faculty or University guidelines.” For the avoidance of doubt, the use of unacknowledged work generated by AI tools is also considered by the University as plagiarised work.
A student may be asked to attend an oral examination if there is a suspicion that work submitted for assessment includes unacknowledged or forbidden AI-generated contributions. If there is a serious mismatch between the quality of work submitted and the performance of the student during the oral examination, a report shall be made to the University Assessment Disciplinary Board ( University Assessment Regulations (2009) [PDF]- Article 38(1)(f), p.17).
You are encouraged to keep copies of your drafts and research notes when producing work for assessment. It is advisable to save different copies of your work rather than overwriting the same file all the time. These will help you show the originality of your work and how you developed your work in an oral examination.
There may be cases where your tutor may allow the use of AI tools in learning and assessment tasks. If this is the case, your tutor will inform you about this and how this should be used for specific learning and assessment tasks.
Although Generative AI tools can support some aspects of your learning, there are also limitations and risks which you need to be aware of. Some of these limitations and risks include:
Remember that assessments are designed to practise and develop key skills such as writing, critical thinking, evaluation, and analysis. These important skills are required to succeed in your university course and future career. If you rely on AI tools for your assessment, you will be denying yourself the opportunity to develop these important skills.
Approved by Senate on 2 November 2023
