Artificial Intelligence

Generative AI is a type of artificial intelligence that creates new text, images, audio, video, and more based on user prompts. Popular examples include ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot.

Generative AI produces text that sounds like it was written by a human by learning from vast amounts of data and predicting which words are likely to appear together. However, pattern recognition is not the same as understanding. Generative AI doesn’t truly comprehend the meaning or context behind what it generates.

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. 

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