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Great World Texts: Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 : Utilizing Generative AI for Your Project

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cannot take responsibility for their output, and create inconsistent responses that can be inaccurate, biased, and out-of-date.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.

Although it's not advised to use generative AI directly to find sources on your topic, AI chatbots may be helpful for some parts of your research process. For instance: 

  • Prompt a chatbot to help brainstorm ideas or to narrow or broaden your topic. (Just be sure to confirm accuracy as you research further.)
  • Prompt a chatbot to generate a list of keywords associated with your topic. Use these terms as you search online, in the Library catalog, or in our Library databases. 
  • Use a chatbot to translate or summarize sources for improved readability.

3 Tips for Communicating with a Chatbot

  • Provide clear context: Offer background details to help the chatbot understand your request better.
     
  • Give precise instructions: Be specific about what you're asking to improve accuracy.
     
  • Expect iteration: The first response may not be perfect. Communication with a chatbot is a collaborative process, so be ready to refine your instructions or offer additional information as needed.
     

Gruda, D. (2024). Three ways ChatGPT helps me in my academic writing. Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-01042-3