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Generative AI and Research

A guide about generative AI

Is Using Generative AI Considered Plagiarism?

Using content from a source without proper citation and/or attribution is considered plagiarism.  This is the case for sources that are authored by humans as well as AI sources such as ChatGPT. 

In some instances, the use of a chatbot such as ChatGPT or another AI source may be restricted or outright banned.  It is important that you talk to your instructor to find out what the guidelines are for using ChatGPT or another AI source are for a particular class.

Generative AI and the Honor Code

The 2024 Honor Code covers the use of  AI in two areas:

Plagiarism and Cheating: "Use of Artificial Intelligence to generate specific language that is then portrayed as a student's own work".

Unauthorized Aid: "Use of Artificial Intelligence in any way that violates course guidelines as clearly stated in the class syllabus". 

 

It is important that you speak to your instructor about the use of ChatGPT or AI sources, as restrictions on use may vary by course or instructor.   

How reliable are ChatGPT or other Generative AI Sources?

Since ChatGPT is " trained on a vast amount of text data from the internet", it is not a reliable source of information.  ChatGPT does not provide sources, can provide erroneous information, and occasionally makes things up.  If you plan to use ChatGPT, or another AI source, it is necessary to check the validity of the information.  You can do this by finding a reliable source from Colorado College's Tutt Library  or consult a librarian.

According to ChatGPT: "It's important to note that while ChatGPT is a powerful language model, it may occasionally produce inaccurate or nonsensical responses. It is always a good idea to verify information from reliable sources and use critical thinking when interpreting the generated responses".