AI basics

Legal and ethical considerations

Although the content generated from AI may be unique, it is based on the data used to train the tool and may breach intellectual property requirements. Caution should also be taken in the prompts given to AI. Prompting AI to create a work that closely resembles or incorporates copyrighted materials may also breach copyright. For example, prompting AI to generate an image of Darth Vader playing hopscotch with Yoda.

Also be aware, with any content submitted to an AI platform through your prompts, you often grant the AI services the right to re-use and distribute this content and that may result in a breach of copyright. Providing copies of text, images, sound, or video that you do not own the copyright for when prompting AI is likely to be a breach of copyright.

Generative AI

Ethical Considerations

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

For each Assessment item, your Unit Assessor will inform you in writing if the use of GenAI tools is explicitly prohibited. Using GenAI to assist with your writing or other assessment tasks when the use of GenAI tools has been explicitly prohibited or without acknowledgment, may be considered a breach of academic integrity, and result in an academic integrity breach with penalties.

ACCESSIBILITY

Currently many of these tools are free however some are starting to charge for access and for more up to date content. Any charges associated with these tools creates barriers within our society as it restricts access to information.

ACCURACY

Information and facts produced by generative AI tools can be delivered confidently, even when it doesn't have the facts to back up its statements. This concept is called hallucination. It is estimated that ChatGPT hallucinates 15-21% of the time. It's important to always fact check all outputs from these types of tools.

BIAS

Be aware that outputs from Al will contain bias, as all datasets and algorithms will include some form of bias within them. As these tools require data to create output, be conscious that some of those biases could be from commercial companies with a particular agenda.

CURRENCY

Content may not be up to date. Tools such as ChatGPT operate offline and are trained from data from mostly pre-2021. It cannot consider the most recent events or developments in a field.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Due to the way data is collected by generative AI tools, there have already been breaches in intellectual property. It's important to also practice caution when using these tools and adding prompts, as these tools collect that data. Depending on what you are adding, you could be breaching copyright for providing copies of text, images, audio or video.

PRIVACY

Al tools collect any data prompts; therefore, it is important to never put personal information or confidential information into any of these tools.