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GENERATIVE AI: Using Generative AI?

Can we trust Generative AI outputs?

Generative AI can produce falsehoods confidently which means that it is prone to giving inaccurate information and presenting it in a believable way. Don’t trust Generative AI for factual information, academic citations or specific quotes. AI performs better with topics familiar to its training data and is more likely to invent, i.e. ‘hallucinate’ material it is less familiar with.

(!) Thinking critically about AI outputs is key (!)

As a critical thinker, you will be open minded, curious, questioning and have developed an ability to analyse information. Critical thinking is one of the University of Brighton’s seven graduate attributes and these are all skills you will utilise in the workplace.

Always:

  • Assume any information generated by GenAI requires fact-checking.
  • Do not rely solely on the output without doing your own independent research
  • Verify the information via other more reliable sources.

The University of Brighton has an institutional license for Microsoft Copilot chatbot, which:

  • Provides answers with citations to sources for extra transparency
  • Outputs still need to be verified and fact checked.

Try this scenario:

  • Ask Generative AI to generate a bibliography then compare it against the library catalogue to see if the references provided are real.
  • Evaluate the scholars’ credibility and activity in the field.

Items from the catalogue

Cover art for AI for games

AI for Games

Available as an eBook and at Aldrich Library

Cover art for Deep Medicine. It depicts a robot hand holding up an apple

Deep Medicine

Available at Falmer Library

Cover image for AI in Fashion in industry

AI in Fashion Industry

Available as an eBook

Machine Learning

Available as an eBook

Am I plagiarising by using AI outputs?

Your use of Generative AI should not replace your critical thinking skills. AI as an assistive tool which should be thought of as an aid to study, it should never be used to do the work for you. AI can be used as a starting point for your research:

  • Scope a topic
  • Request definitions
  • Requests synonym and antonyms

Knowing how to critically evaluate AI content for bias is a core component of AI fluency. Remember that Generative AI outputs are unreliable when it comes to ensuring factual accuracy and impartially of information. Always follow university guidance on the use of AI in assessment.

How do I reference AI?

Where the use of AI is permitted, you are required to declare the contribution of AI tools and attribute where appropriate. Your Assessment Brief will outline how you should declare your use of AI.

Cite them Right online includes guidance on how to cite a huge range of materials including Generative AI: Cite Them Right - Generative AI