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Artificial Intelligence

A guide for students to learn how to responsibly use artificial intelligence (AI) tools in their coursework.

What is Generative AI?

"Generative AI is a type of artificial intelligence that creates new data, such as images, text, and music, based on patterns found in existing data. It works by learning the underlying structure of the data and then using that structure to generate new content." (onEntrepreneur, 2023). 

 

Sources:

onEntrepreneur. (2023, March 21). Generative AI: Meaning, types, capabilities - all you need to know. https://onentrepreneur.com/generative-ai/

Types of Generative AI

Text generators create written content from prompts by using patterns in existing text, allowing them to produce nearly any type of writing. Some examples of text generators include:

Image generators create digital images based on the description or prompt you give them. They learn from a large collection of existing images to generate new ones that match the details in your prompt. Some examples of image generators include:

Code generators create computer code from prompts. Some code generators can also help with debugging by identifying errors or suggesting fixes. Some examples of code generators include:

Below are some examples of AI research tools. Please note that Saint Mary's University does not subscribe to these tools. They are provided here for anyone who wants to explore and learn more about using them.

Generative AI Product Tracker

Ithaka S+R's Generative AI Product Tracker provides a list of generative AI tools that are currently being used by or marketed toward postsecondary students and faculty. The list is updated regularly to include new AI products as well as the latest information on existing tools including pricing, key features, and pros and limitations. 

ChatGPT

ChatGPT is an advanced chatbot that was released in November 2022 by OpenAI. It uses large language models and predictive technology to recognize written prompts and generate human-like responses. ChatGPT is a type of generative AI, which means it predicts and generates the most likely responses to prompts based on its massive amount of training data. 

Currently, ChatGPT 3.5 is free upon registration. ChatGPT-4 (available via ChatGPT Plus) has a subscription fee. To use ChatGPT, click the link below. Simply type in your prompt, hit Enter, and you'll receive a response from the chatbot. 

 

Despite its many capabilities, ChatGPT has several limitations. Learn about some of its challenges in the video below from Bloomberg:

Capabilities and Limitations of Generative AI

Common Things Generative AI Can Do:

  • Generate written and visual content
  • Translate text between various languages
  • Summarize large amounts of text 
  • Explain concepts in simple or detailed ways, depending on what you need

 

Common Limitations of Generative AI:

  • Hallucinations (makes stuff up)
  • Biases in training data can appear in AI-generated content
  • Factually inaccurate responses
  • Many generative AI tools don't provide sources or may create fake sources
  • Ethical issues, including the creation of harmful, offensive, or misleading content   

ChatGPT Learning Resources