Skip to Main Content

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Resource Guide

FAQ

Here are some common FAQs faculty have about Generative AI and AI in general:

  • What are the different ways I can use Generative AI in my teaching?
    • These Generative AI Tools can enhance your existing teaching methods and expand how you engage with students in the classroom.
      • Here are examples of ways you can use Generative AI*
        • Brainstorming Ideas: Generative AI can help generate engaging ideas for the classroom.
        • "Peer" review with AI assistance: Facilitate peer review sessions that suggest constructive feedback and identify areas of improvement. 
        • Interactive learning simulations: Real-world scenarios for students in engineering, science, business, policy, or social sciences.
        • Text-to-speech and speech-to-text tools: Support students with visual or auditory impairments, making lectures and materials more accessible and inclusive.
        • Interactive learning activities: Image and sound Generative AI can create tools for students to interact with a 3D model of a molecule in your chemistry lecture or explore the evolution of a historical event through a branching narrative presentation.
    • Also, See the "Learning About Generative AI Tools" Page for more.
  • Is it reliable and accurate?
    • This depends on what the tool is doing. Generative AI can be reliable if the quality of the data and algorithms used is accurate and without bias. However, it is not always reliable and accurate. It is up to the user (both faculty and students) to make sure that what they use from Generative AI and AI is reliable, accurate, and follows any copyright and academic rules/regulations.
    • See Myth and Misconceptions to learn more about Generative AI and AI.
  • How can I ensure my students use it ethically and responsibly? 
    • Just as is the case with research, it is the student's job to make sure what they are using is ethically responsible. This means understanding and recognizing biases in Generative AI Tools. Generative AI can be misused and ethical and bias concerns have existed before the influx of Generative AI. To see what to look for with biases in Generative AI and AI click HERE.
  • What are the limitations of Generative AI? 
    • There are several 
      • Data-Driven Work
        • Generative AI can't truly understand the world or the meaning behind the data it processes. It can lead to factual inaccuracies, nonsensical outputs, and a lack of common sense reasoning. 
        • Generative AI models learn from the data they're trained on, which can lead to biased outputs if the data itself is biased.  It also means that what they produce can be outdated information if they are not regularly updated.
      • Cost
        • Training and running complex generative models requires significant computational power, which can be expensive and resource-intensive.
      • Creativity
        • There are many arguments about whether or not Generative AI is creating "original" content. Mostly, these tools use data to recombine existing patterns and produce something "new." However, these tools struggle with genuine creative leaps or moving away from the established patterns. 
        • Generative AI cannot often interpret subtle nuances, humor, or cultural references, leading to outputs that can be bland, insensitive, or contextually inappropriate.
      • Ethical Concerns: 
        • Generative AI can create or be used to create convincing but fake content
          • Known as Deepfakes: "an image or recording that has been convincingly altered and manipulated to misrepresent someone as doing or saying something that was not actually done or said."  Merriam-Webster Dictionary 
  • Will AI and Generative AI replace me as a teacher?
    • Short Answer:
      • No
    • Longer Answer:
      • The purpose of AI and Generative AI is to help reduce workloads. Since AI tools cannot go unmonitored, people must be responsible for overseeing the product. Person-to-person teaching brings irreplaceable human qualities like critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and the ability to build relationships with students.

  • What are the security and privacy concerns surrounding Generative AI?
    • It's crucial to protect your and your students' data used to train Generative AI models. Everyone needs to understand how their data is being used.
    • Be aware of potential security vulnerabilities in Generative AI systems that could be exploited for malicious purposes.

*Please Consult the "Learning About Generative AI Tools" Box when using these tools.