Copyright

Generative AI enables computers to create new works of all kinds (e.g. textual, artistic, musical, computer code), based on work produced by others that the computers are programmed with and can draw on. AI can be relevant to academia, but needs to be used carefully in this context.

Advantages and disadvantages of AI

Advantages include:

• Reviewing information and research in an automated manner. 
• Analysing data. 
• Checking grammar and spelling. 
• Summarising documents.

Acceptable uses of AI tools may include exploring topics, checking your understanding, and preparing assignments. Follow instructions of academic staff in relation to the use of AI in your work. To reference AI generated content, see guidance available on Cite Them Right Online.

Disadvantages:

• 'Invents' references.
• May be biased, depending on the material that has been used to 'train' it.
• May infringe copyright law. Tools will not indicate if they have used copyrighted material.
• Possibility of plagiarism, which is a serious academic misconduct matter.

Generative AI can be used to retrieve information, like a search engine. The difference with a search engine is that AI can generate results as human-like text, which may be difficult to differentiate from the way you write. As this output is based on existing material (which could be copyrighted), there is a high possibility of infringement of copyright and unintentional plagiarism of other writers' work.