Generative AI Tools for Students

Generative AI can be a powerful partner in research, learning, and creativity. But like any tool, its value depends on how you use it. Before you start prompting, pause to consider privacy, ethics, accuracy, and academic integrity.

The image below is a reflection tool for pressing pause and thinking before using the tool of your choosing in academic and personal contexts.

Want to explore in greater depth? Download the expanded, detailed reflection tool here:

Before using an AI tool, it is advisable to consider the following:

• Privacy & Confidentiality – Are you sharing personal, confidential, or identifying details?
• Accuracy – Can you verify the output with reliable, original sources?
• Bias & Fairness – Could the AI reinforce harmful stereotypes or misinformation?
• Copyright & Ownership – Who owns the ideas or content once you enter them into the tool?
• Transparency – Are you prepared to explain and document how you used AI?
• Ethics & Human Impact – Does AI add value without replacing human expertise or creativity?
• Environmental Impact – Every AI task consumes energy and water. Use AI intentionally.
• Learning & Impact – Will you need to know this skill independently in the future? Was the tool trained on works used without permission? What are your goals, and what might the consequences be of using AI for this task?

Ask yourself the following questions before incorporating an AI tool into your coursework or research:

• Is my use of AI permitted in this course or assignment?
• What are my goals for this task? What are the possible consequences of using AI?
• Will I still independently know this skill without AI?
• Have I checked outputs for accuracy using reputable sources? (See Verifying and Citing Generative AI)
• Am I avoiding stereotypes, bias, or misleading information?
• Do I want to retain rights to this idea, argument, or data before inputting it?
• If working in a group, have I made sure everyone agrees on AI use?
• Could I explain exactly how I used AI if asked?
• Am I comfortable having my prompts tied to my account, name, or email?
• Would a human resource (librarian, writing tutor, advisor) serve me better for this task?

Understanding the challenges and failures of artificial intelligence systems helps us use AI tools more responsibly and effectively. This section highlights real-world examples of AI incidents, including unexpected errors, ethical concerns, and safety issues.