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Artificial Intelligence: ChatGPT and Beyond: AI: Concerns

Some things to consider when using AI

Confidentiality: AI tools collect user information that cannot be deleted - and may share information with third-party vendors.  Consider this privacy concern as you use these tools.  

Bias: AI can produce sexist, racist or otherwise biased results

Erroneous Information: AI can produce erroneous or misleading information - including making up citations for article and book citations - and even people -  that do not exist(!)   AI might not include up-to-date information.

Copyright Risks:  AI may present copyright and intellectual property risks

Lack of originality: AI may produce output that is not unique. 

Potential for scams and fraud

For some possible concerns. see OpenAI (which includes ChatGPT) 's Terms of Use; See also  OpenIA.ChatGPT: Optimizing language models for dialogue and scroll down to "limitations."  

 

Does AI pose larger societal threats?   See the Center for AI Safety (CAIS) 

See more on our library guide on Fake News, Misleading News, Biased News

 

Carpenter, Todd A. (2023, January 11).  Thoughts on AI's impact on scholarly communications?  An interview with ChatGPT.  Scholarly Kitchen. 

Chen, Brian X. (2022, December 21). How to use ChatGPT and still be a good person. New York Times. Chen notes some of the limitations of ChatGPT including a reminder that the results may look plausible and yet be incorrect (!)    Also, results may be biased based on the data, text, images given to create the AI.  

Christian, Jon.  (2023, February 9).  Magazine publishes serious errors in first AI-generated health article.  NeoScope  [Sports Illustrated, Men's Journal.]

Koplin, J., & Hatherley, J. (2022, December 19).  Guest post: It has become possible to use cutting-edge AI language models to generate convincing high school and undergraduate essays. Here's why that matters.  Practical Ethics.  

Leffer, L. (2023, January 17).  CNET is reviewing the accuracy of all its AI-written articles after multiple major corrections.  Big surprise:  CNET's writing robot doesn't know what it's talking about.  Gizmodo. 

Markkula Center for Applied Ethics. Internet ethics (Includes AI)  

News Literacy Project.  News literacy in the age of AI

Nolan, Beatrice.  (2023, January 15). This man used AI to write and illustrate a children's book in 1 weekend.  He wasn't prepared for the backlash.  Business Insider.  

Old Dominion University Libraries.  Algorithms & AI  Information about issues with computer algorithms

Ruiz, PatI. (2022, May 20).  Artificial intelligence in education:  A reading guide focused on promoting equity and accountability in AI.  CIRCLS: Center for Integrative Research in Computing and Learning Sciences. 

Savage, M.  (2023, January 18). Nick Cave says ChatGPT's Ai attempt to write Nick Cave lyrics 'sucks'.  BBC News. (What happens when AI results just aren't aesthetically pleasing?) 

Thompson, Ben. (2022, December  5). AI Homework  Stratechery.  Good descriptions of ChatGPT creating some misleading and incorrect information for a homework assignment.  

 

Is it safe to use ChatGPT for your task? A flow chart

Does it matter if the output is true?    Do you have the expertise to verify that the output is accurate?  Are you able and 

willing to take full responsibility (legal, moral, etc.) for missed inaccuracies?   Questions to consider before using ChatGPT

Is it safe to use ChatGPT for your task

 

 

 

What are the pro's and con's of using ChatGPT for academic writing?

PROMPT given to ChatGPT:

You are teaching an undergraduate English composition course.  Provide your students with a handout with the pros and cons of using ChatGPT for writing academic papers.

RESPONSE from ChatGPT: 

Handout: Pros and Cons of Using ChatGPT for Writing Academic Papers

As an undergraduate student, you may have heard about ChatGPT, a language model designed by OpenAI that uses artificial intelligence to generate human-like responses to text prompts. While ChatGPT has the potential to be a useful tool for writing academic papers, there are both pros and cons to using this technology. Below are some of the advantages and disadvantages of using ChatGPT for academic writing.

Pros:

  1. Time-saving: Using ChatGPT can save you time, especially when you're struggling to come up with ideas or are experiencing writer's block. ChatGPT can generate ideas and content quickly, allowing you to focus on other aspects of your paper, such as organization and editing.
  2. Helps with language: ChatGPT can assist with grammar, spelling, and sentence structure. The AI model has been trained to recognize common writing mistakes, and can provide suggestions for improvement.
  3. Boosts creativity: ChatGPT can suggest creative ideas that you may not have thought of otherwise. The AI model has been trained on a vast amount of data and can offer unique perspectives and angles on a topic.
  4. Can help non-native English speakers: ChatGPT can be a valuable tool for non-native English speakers who struggle with writing in English. The AI model can suggest phrasing and sentence structures that are more commonly used by native speakers.

Cons:

  1. Limited accuracy: ChatGPT's responses are not always accurate, and the model can produce nonsensical or irrelevant content. It is important to carefully review and edit the content generated by ChatGPT before using it in your paper.
  2. Plagiarism risk: If you use ChatGPT to generate content without proper attribution, you could be at risk of committing plagiarism. Always double-check that any content generated by ChatGPT is properly cited and referenced.
  3. Dependency risk: Over-reliance on ChatGPT can hinder your ability to develop your own writing skills. It is important to use ChatGPT as a tool to aid your writing process rather than as a substitute for your own ideas and writing.
  4. Impersonal: ChatGPT's responses lack the personal touch that comes with writing your own paper. Writing in your own voice and style can make your paper more engaging and authentic.

Overall, ChatGPT can be a useful tool for writing academic papers, but it is important to weigh the pros and cons before using this technology. Always use ChatGPT responsibly and as a supplement to your own ideas and writing.