Using generative AI in an ethical way
The ability to use AI tools ethically, critically and safely is a skill employers will value. Massey uses an Artificial Intelligence Use Framework to determine what level of use of generative AI is permitted for specific assessments. Whenever you use AI tools, you must keep and provide records that identify the AI used, reference it appropriately and describe how you adapted the outputs to produce your own work.
AI Use Framework
| AIAS level | Description |
|---|---|
| No AI |
The assessment is completed entirely without AI, in a controlled environment, ensuring that students rely solely on their own knowledge, understanding and skills. |
| AI planning |
AI may be used for pre-task activities such as brainstorming, outlining and initial research. This level focuses on the effective use of AI for planning, synthesis and ideation. However, assessments should emphasise the ability to develop and refine these ideas independently. |
| AI collaboration |
AI can be used to help complete the task, including idea generation, drafting, feedback and refinement. Students should critically evaluate and modify the AI-suggested outputs, demonstrating their understanding. |
| AI exploration |
AI is used creatively to enhance problem-solving, generate novel insights or develop innovative solutions to solve problems. Students and educators co-design assessments to explore unique AI applications within the field of study. |
AI use is not permitted in secured assessments, such as practicals, invigilated tests and exams.
What you may be allowed to do with AI tools
Specific information about how you may use AI is provided in each course. Depending on the course, you may be able to use Generative AI in some of the following ways.
Use Generative AI as a planning tool to do tasks such as:
- organising your thoughts or breaking down the assessment task
- suggesting structures or frameworks for your argument
- summarising your notes or identifying key points for revision purposes
- simplifying complex academic concepts.
Use Generative AI as a collaboration tool to do tasks in addition to the planning tasks, such as:
- identifying grammar or vocabulary errors and typos in your originally produced text and suggesting how to correct them
- evaluating the structure and organisation of your writing.
Use Generative AI creatively to explore new solutions and generate new processes.
Alternatively, you may choose not to use AI and complete the assessment entirely on your own knowledge, understanding and skills.
What you must do when using any AI-generated outputs
- Fact-check AI-generated content against academic sources.
- Revise and rework any AI-generated text extensively, making sure the ideas produced are relevant to the task and context.
- Look for any potentially biased assumptions embedded in the output.
- Always do your own independent search for your own quality references.
- Check the accuracy of any AI-produced references. AI frequently produces false and inaccurate references. You need to know and check what the original sources say to determine if they have been used and (or) cited accurately.
- Submit an appendix with your assessment containing a full record of all the AI tools and prompts you used, the AI-generated content and an explanation of where and how you used and modified that content in your assignment.
Find out how to cite information from an AI platform in APA Style
What you must not do when using AI
- Enter any information that is personal, copyrighted, commercially sensitive, research sensitive or provided under non-disclosure agreements into GenAI tools.
- Submit AI-created content as your own. Copying and pasting chunks of text generated by an AI tool into your assessment is plagiarism.
- Take what an AI tool produces at face value. If your assessment contains fabricated data, this is regarded as academic misconduct.
- Use paraphrasing tools to rewrite material someone else has written and copy it into your text. Submitting this as your own work is plagiarism. (Using a tool to only translate material you have authored yourself is not considered an integrity breach, but if the tool is used to generate work that is not your own and which you do not disclose, this may be regarded as a breach of academic integrity.)
You should never use AI tools if an assessment has stated that they should not be used.
If the university suspects AI use
Although AI use is now permitted in most assignments, we want you to use AI as a tool to enhance your learning, not as a replacement for your learning. If we are concerned that your assignment relies too heavily on AI, or contains inaccuracies as a result of using AI, we may invite you to explain your work. We know that it takes time to understand what is acceptable in academic writing and that sometimes students make mistakes, so it is important to understand that being asked to discuss your assignment is not an allegation of academic misconduct or that you breached academic integrity. Telling us how you developed your argument and showing your drafts, notes and summaries of readings and journal articles helps us understand that your work is not AI-generated.
Where the course coordinator believes that the way you have used AI is a breach of academic integrity, they may deal with the case as Poor Academic Practice or refer the case to the Academic Integrity Officer to deal with it as a Minor Breach or Academic Misconduct. The Academic Integrity Procedures for Managing Student Breaches explains the process and criteria that the university follows.
Academic Integrity Procedures for Managing Student Breaches (PDF, 162KB)
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