AI can serve multiple functions in your academic journey, each with different ethical implications:
When AI use crosses ethical lines:
If you prompt a bot to complete an assignment and submit its output, you're allowing convenience to steal an education from you. Clear writing is clear thinking. Regardless of how generative AI changes society in the coming years, you will need to have knowledge in your brain in order to make use of AI.
Students at Santiago Canyon College are expected to be honest and forthright in their academic endeavors. To falsify the results of one's research, to steal the words or ideas of another, or to cheat on an examination corrupts the essential process by which knowledge is advanced. Academic dishonesty is seen as an intentional act of fraud, in which a student seeks to claim credit for the work or efforts of another without authorization or uses unauthorized materials or fabricated information in any academic exercise. We, as an institution, also consider academic dishonesty to include forgery of academic documents, intentionally impeding or damaging the academic work of others, assisting other students in acts of dishonesty or coercing students into acts of dishonesty.
Always cite when:
You may not need to cite when:
If you use AI to generate content that appears in your work, cite it like this:
MLA 9th Edition: ChatGPT. "Description of prompt." ChatGPT, version used, OpenAI, date of interaction, chat.openai.com.
APA 7th Edition: ChatGPT. (Year, Month Day). [Description of prompt]. ChatGPT (version used). chat.openai.co
AI systems reflect the data they're trained on, which can perpetuate existing biases:
AI systems require significant computing power and energy. Consider using AI thoughtfully and purposefully. For simple information (like definitions), traditional search engines are more environmentally responsible.
AI models are trained on human-created work. Work that was created with massive amounts of time, energy, and passion. Consider accessing the original content referenced by AI, to appreciate the authentic human voice.
As AI tools advance and become ever more ubiquitous, critical thinking and research skills are even more important - not less!
When using AI tools, be aware that:
Remember that AI should assist your learning, not replace it. The goal of your education is to develop your own critical thinking skills, knowledge base, and unique perspective—things that AI cannot provide.