The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) has brought unprecedented opportunities and challenges. On November 30, 2022, OpenAI released ChatGPT, a major milestone in the field of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI). This release drew immediate public attention, as ChatGPT quickly became the fastest-growing application in user numbers in history. In fact, within just five days, ChatGPT reached 1 million users, setting a new record that underscored the intense interest and demand for AI-powered tools.
As generative AI tools like ChatGPT become more prevalent in education and research, they are having a profound impact on society and raising important ethical and moral questions. This newsletter provides guidelines for citing generative AI tools in academic and research work.
Monthly active users of ChatGPT in December 2022 and January 2023 (in millions).
In 2021,UNESCO published the Guidance on Generative AI in Education and Research, a publication designed to support the development of appropriate regulations, policies, and human resource capabilities. This is to ensure that GenAI genuinely serves as a tool that benefits and empowers educators, learners, and researchers.
The guidance outlines essential steps for government agencies to regulate generative AI use, offering policy frameworks, instructional design models, and specific examples to enable the ethical and effective integration of this technology in education. It also includes recommendations for a global AI ethics framework, with a strong focus on embedding ethical principles into AI applications to ensure a positive impact on students, educators, and society as a whole. The document emphasizes social responsibility, data privacy, transparency, and fairness in AI applications, urging countries and institutions to assume ethical responsibility as they advance AI development.
Image from Google
UNESCO's 2021 Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence offers a necessary framework to begin addressing the many ethical concerns surrounding generative AI, including those relevant to education and research. This recommendation is grounded in a human-centered approach to AI, advocating that its use should support human capacity-building and promote an inclusive, just, and sustainable future.
1.Ethical Impact Assessment: Emphasizes the importance of conducting ethical impact assessments to identify, evaluate, and address the benefits, concerns, and risks associated with AI systems.
2.Privacy and Data Protection: Stresses the importance of respecting, protecting, and promoting privacy in the design and implementation of AI systems.
3.Accountability: Highlights that transparency and human oversight are essential for ensuring respect, protection, and promotion of human rights, fundamental freedoms, and ethical principles.
4.Promotion of Human Rights, Fundamental Freedoms, and Diversity: Encourages the development and application of AI systems that align with international standards for human rights, the rule of law, democracy, and ethical impact assessment.
The above summary is drawn from the Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, serving as a foundational reference for these principles.
Educational institutions generally agree that an excessive reliance on generative AI tools may hinder the development of students' original thinking and writing skills. However, an outright ban on these tools is also not the best approach. Some leading academic publishers now permit authors to use tools like ChatGPT in scholarly writing, provided they include a written disclosure and disclaimer. At the same time, universities are actively enhancing oversight and guidelines for students and researchers on the use of AI-generated content to safeguard academic integrity. For example:
When using generative AI tools in academic writing, citing their contributions is an essential aspect of academic integrity. As generative AI tools such as ChatGPT and Bard become more widely available, they have the potential to significantly impact academic writing. In response, the University of British Columbia (UBC) Library has released the Generative AI and ChatGPT guidelines to assist students in correctly using and citing generative AI tools in their academic work, ensuring that AI-assisted writing adheres to academic integrity standards.
When AI-generated content is directly included in writing or when AI helps shape ideas or arguments, it is important to properly cite the AI’s contribution. Students are still responsible for clearly identifying AI tools' contributions to maintain transparency. For example:
This UBC guidance not only helps students learn how to correctly use generative AI but also emphasizes the academic community's commitment to transparency and accountability. By accurately citing the contributions of AI tools, students can better uphold the integrity and originality of their academic work while making effective use of the support AI provides.
In the field of education, generative AI tools can greatly enhance students' learning efficiency and expand the breadth and depth of their knowledge acquisition. We encourage students to actively explore the use of AI during their learning process to strengthen their analytical and creative abilities. UNESCO highlights that students need to understand the limitations and potential biases of AI while using these tools, fostering their critical thinking skills and avoiding excessive reliance on technology. By using AI appropriately, students can develop critical thinking and cultivate the ability to assess and distinguish information.
Despite the ongoing debate between supporters and critics, the wave of AI applications will likely continue.It is crucial to stay updated on policies regarding academic integrity and the responsible use of tools like ChatGPT in academic writing.
For detailed insights on the ethical use of generative AI in education and research, you’re invited to explore our website, where the full document Guidance on Generative AI in Education and Research is available.
Stay connected to our platform for ongoing updates to better understand and engage with the developments in AI technology.
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References:
1.Academic Integrity in the Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) Context：https://www.bath.ac.uk/announcements/academic-integrity-in-the-generative-artificial-intelligence-genai-context/
2.Generative AI and ChatGPT: https://guides.library.ubc.ca/GenAI/cite
3.Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000381137
4.Holmes, W., & Miao, F. (2023). Guidance for generative AI in education and research. UNESCO Publishing.
5.Guidance on Generative AI in Education and Research:https://www.unesco.org/en/artificial-intelligence/recommendation-ethics
Author: Enlei (Cecilia) Chen
Chief Editor: Yirui (Sandy) Jiang