Generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT and Copilot, are ever-evolving and their use has become widespread. Whether you’re using these tools already or might want to explore them further, making decisions about using AI tools as a student can be complicated. Generative AI requires human input, editing and evaluation. When it is used in appropriate contexts, it is our responsibility to review and revise AI-generated content to ensure its accuracy and make it our own.
When in doubt about if you can use AI in your course or not, ask your instructor and document your work!
Using AI to support learning
AI can be a valuable tool, but remember that part of your Buffalo State experience is building your own skills and knowledge. Think of AI as a workout partner at the gym: It can help you track and plan, but if you let AI do the heavy lifting, you miss out on personal and academic growth. Research has long shown that producing your own writing leads to deeper learning, longer retained. If you use AI to write for you - whether explanations, summaries, topic ideas, or even initial outlines - you will learn less and perform more poorly on subsequent exams and attempts to use that knowledge. With that caveat in mind, there are ways that people use generative AI to extend their learning.
AI can enhance learning, but cannot replace learning. You should aim to understand AI course policies and if/how AI fits into your study process without allowing it to take over.
Critically evaluating AI content
AI can make mistakes or introduce biases. You should always check AI-generated information for accuracy. For instance, if you ask AI to create a study guide, you should cross-reference its answers with your notes and course materials. AI relies on input quality - experimenting with prompts and learning practical ways to interact with AI can improve results over time.
Protect your privacy and security
Many public GenAI platforms (like ChatGPT and Claude) collect data to improve their models. Non-public or sensitive University information should never be uploaded into public GenAI tools - whether free or paid - unless there is a university agreement with the vendor. Students should not share others’ personal information, course materials, or any proprietary content in these tools unless they have clear permission from the relevant parties, such as the instructor or content creator.
Using AI in coursework
If an instructor has not explicitly stated that AI is allowed for an assignment, assume that it isn’t. AI use may vary by course, so it is up to you to understand and follow the specific policies for each course. When in doubt, ask your instructor for guidance. Unauthorized AI use may be considered academic misconduct, similar to plagiarism. In courses where AI is allowed, instructors may require transparency, such as students acknowledging their use or providing transcripts of their AI interactions.
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