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Generative AI : Using Generative AI in Your Coursework

Guidance and resources for AI chatbots and other types of Generative AI

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Considerations for Using Generative AI in Coursework

The appropriate use of generative AI in coursework varies per class and will evolve over time. If planning to use generative AI for a course assignment, consult with your instructor.

When using generative AI, be aware that:

  • Generative AI should augment your work and not answer for you. If you are using citations or facts created by generative AI, find the original sources to confirm that they exist, and that the information is accurate and relevant to your work.
  • Transparency when using generative AI is important. For guidance on being transparent when using generative AI, refer to Citing Generative AI
  • Any use of generative AI other than where indicated by your instructor is a violation of coursework expectations and will be addressed through UW–Madison’s academic misconduct policy, specifically UWS 14.03(1)b (b) "Uses unauthorized materials or fabricated data in any academic exercise."

If you're an instructor seeking guidance on integrating generative AI into your courses or student use of AI in coursework, please consult the following resource.

Do AI Chatbots Provide Credible Information?

Credible information shares the following characteristics: 

  • Factual accuracy
  • Author responsibility and authority
  • Timeliness
  • Ability for others to retrieve it 

AI chatbots cannot take responsibility for their output, and create inconsistent responses that can be inaccurate, biased, and out-of-date. For these reasons, AI chatbot responses do not meet the criteria for credibility. Always fact check AI responses with credible sources.

Check Your Sources!

Being able to identify original sources of information is important to credit the authors and to evaluate for accuracy and credibility.

AI chatbots do not always provide reliable information. Be sure to locate, read, and evaluate the original sources used in AI chatbot outputs for credibility and relevance to your topic. Below are some tips for locating and evaluating sources no matter where you find your information:

Lateral Reading 

Digital literacy expert Michal Caulfield developed a method called SIFT (Stop, Investigate the source, Find better coverage, Trace claims, quotes, and media to their original context) to consume information critically.