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Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI)

Welcome

This guide covers important considerations for using generative AI tools in your research and scholarly work.

Information provided in this guide is not an endorsement, and we advise you to consult with the appropriate party (instructor, supervisor, campus office, publisher, etc.) for the most relevant and up-to-date generative AI policy information applicable in your context.

What is Gen AI?

Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to the ability of computer software to perform advanced reasoning and problem-solving tasks. Generative AI refers to software tools that can create new content such as text, images, audio, and video.

Types of Gen AI

📖 Text tools

"Text generators are trained on large amounts of text from books, articles, and websites which is analyzed to find patterns and relationships and create new texts by predicting the word or sentence most likely to follow another in a sequence. Text generators can be used to produce a wide variety of content including essays, memos, brochures, poems, songs, and screenplays.

ExamplesChatGPT | Gemini (formerly know as Bard)" 
 

🖼️ Image tools

"Image generators learn by analyzing sets of images with captions or text descriptions. Once they learn which images are associated with which concepts, they can combine them to create new images in a range of styles from photorealistic to abstract.

ExamplesDall-E 2 | Midjourney | Stable Diffusion"
 

🎶 Music tools

"Music generators analyze music tracks and metadata (artist, album, genre, release date, etc.) to identify patterns and features in particular music genres and generate similar sounding compositions.

Examples: Aviva | Soundful | Boomy"
 

🎥 Video tools

"Video generators learn by analyzing large sets of annotated video and generating new video in response to a text prompt. Alternatively, users can upload existing videos and edit them using text prompts or by applying canned filters and effects.

ExamplesSynthesia | Pictory | Kapwing"
 

💻 Code tools

"Code generators use algorithms trained on existing source code—typically produced by open source projects for public use—and generate new code based on those examples. Some tools can also analyze and debug existing code or offer suggestions for improvement.

Examples: CodePal | Tabnine | GitHub Copilot"
 

Gen AI Literacy Starting Points

Artificial Intelligence & Information Literacy Open Course

  • Author: University of Maryland Libraries and Teaching and Learning Transformation Center
  • Format: self-paced, multimedia (~1 - 2 hours total)
  • Audience: students and researchers
  • Contents:
    • How generative AI tools work (including benefits and risks)
    • Recognize inaccurate/misleading output, fact check output
    • Citing generative AI output
    • Creative applications for generative AI tools

Generative AI Tutorials

  • Author: Nicole Henning of the University of Arizona University Libraries
  • Format: self-paced, multimedia (~1 hour total)
  • Audience: students and researchers
  • Contents:
    • The technology behind ChatGPT
    • How doe ChatGPT aim to prevent harmful use?
    • What is GenerativeAI?
    • Using ChatGPT effectively
    • Creating multimedia with AI tools

Machines and Society Guide

  • Author: New York University Shanghai Library
  • Format: self-paced, text
  • Audience: students and researchers
  • Contents:
    • Large Language Models
    • Gen AI for Research and Creative Use
    • Emerging AI Tools for Teaching and Learning

Key Ethical Implications of Gen AI Use

For AI systems to be trustworthy, they often need to be responsive to a multiplicity of criteria that are of value to interested parties. Approaches which enhance AI trustworthiness can reduce negative AI risks. This Framework articulates the following characteristics of trustworthy AI and offers guidance for addressing them. Characteristics of trustworthy AI systems include: valid and reliable, safe, secure and resilient, accountable and transparent, explainable and interpretable, privacy-enhanced, and fair with harmful bias managed. Creating trustworthy AI requires balancing each of these characteristics based on the AI system's context of use. While all characteristics are socio-technical system attributes, accountability and transparency also relate to the processes and activities internal to an AI system and its external setting. Neglecting these characteristics can increase the probability and magnitude of negative consequences.


A variety of ethical considerations have arisen alongside the development of generative AI tools, including, but not limited to, the following concerns:

  • Biases both in terms of what is represented and what is not represented in underlying data will affect the outputs of generative AI.
     
  • Underlying data used may be in violation of intellectual property, ownership, and/or privacy.  
     
  • Unreliable outputs from AI may be spread as misinformation or disinformation (e.g., AI-generated media or intentionally generated "deep fakes"). 
     
  • AI tools consume vast quantities of greenhouse gas emitting energy resources, and there are similar concerns associated with the environmental impact of the resources required to store AI outputs, as well.
     
  • The rapid pace of change in the generative AI landscape can lead to an exacerbation of inequalities and deepening of disadvantages in access to tools, skills, and knowledge, and exploitation of workers.