The last content section for this course will discuss AI (artificial intelligence) and tools such as ChatGPT in relation to information literacy, academic work, and library research.
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What is AI (Artificial Intelligence)?
AI or artificial intelligence refers to the use of computers, software, and machines to mimic human thought processes and decision making. Examples include:
PBS Newshour: What led to the OpenAI leadership shakeup and what it means for the future of AI
By Geoff Bennett, Karina Cuevas, and Dorothy Hastings, Nov 20, 2023 6:45 PM EST
(Some) Pros and Cons of AI in Higher Education
PROS | CONS |
---|---|
AI can provide personalized content and feedback to enhance student learning, as well as tailored tutoring, based on individual learning strengths and preferences. | AI content generators increase the chances of students cheating and plagiarizing. |
Learning using AI can be interactive, providing students with dynamic content to keep their attention. |
AI content generators can produce incorrect information, known as "hallucinations." |
AI can provide adaptive learning opportunities by creating individual paths for students to learn at their own pace. | AI algorithms "scraping" the web for content may violate privacy and copyright (is it really "fair use"?). Concerns include recordings of voice data, individuals' online activity, geographic location data, and video data being used as surveillance. |
AI can facilitate collaborative learning between classmates, with virtual and augmented reality applications. | AI trained on biased information perpetuates existing biases. |
AI can provide enhanced accessibility to course content for students with disabilities. |
Exclusive use of AI in education can increase barriers for already disadvantaged students who do not have equal access to technology. |
AI can collect and analyze student data to help instructors improve lessons and outcomes. | AI recommendation tools are geared toward keeping users engaged online, suggesting more of the same extreme content and biases that people favor (remember confirmation bias from week 6?), perpetuating information bubbles and misinformation. |
Overview: What is ChatGPT?
ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence (AI) tool that uses natural language processing (nlp) techniques to respond to user-generated prompts. Put simply: You ask ChatGPT a question or provide a prompt, it replies using natural language.
What do you need to know about ChatGPT?
OpenAI (the company that designed ChatGPT) collects a lot of data from ChatGPT users.
TIP: Before using ChatGPT (if you plan to do so), please read over the privacy policy and consider opting out if you do not feel comfortable having your data collected and shared as outlined in the policy.
ChatGPT is not always trustworthy
ChatGPT makes stuff up!
What can ChatGPT do?
What else can ChatGPT do?
*These ideas and more from this Twitter thread by Robert Petitto, this Twitter thread by Matt Miller, and Ditch That Textbook.
What can ChatGPT NOT do? (Yet)
Adapted from Overview of ChatGPT by Katie Ediger, August 2023.