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Searching and Generative AI (GenAI): GenAI

 What is Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI)? 

GenAI tools analyse large training datasets to generate new, original content in response to instructions ('prompts') from users. This content can include text, images, video and code. GenAI chatbots including ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot provide human-like, conversational responses to written prompts. It is important to understand that these tools recognise patterns but do not understand the content - this can lead to biases and inaccuracies in the content they generate.

GenAI & Academic Responsibility and Conduct

GenAI can be a useful tool to help you understand concepts but must be used in addition to your own critical thinking and analysis. You must ensure that your academic work is respectful, responsible, ethical fair, honest and correctly referenced to give confidence in your academic responsibility and conduct. 

You are allowed to use GenAI tools like ChatGPT to develop your learning and support your studies. You should never submit work that has been created or part-created by GenAI for assessments that you claim as your own work.

Watch our three short videos featuring Chloe, a Psychology student, as she guides you through the strengths and weaknesses of using GenAI tools to find reliable, credible sources for your academic work.


Click here to view the accessible version of this interactive content

Evaluating GenAI 

GenAI tools in general have many positive uses, but make sure you are aware of the negatives and limitations.

  • Scoping a topic or refining your ideas 
  • Summarising your notes or presenting them in a different format 
  • Generating quizzes to test your knowledge 
  • Suggesting ways to help your time management skills 
  • Developing your search strategy for finding information on a specific topic 
  • Proofreading your work to highlight spelling errors and suggest grammatical improvements to the structure 
  • Biases and stereotypes in the GenAI training data will be reflected in the answers the tool gives. Always critically evaluate GenAI responses.
  • Academic Responsibility and Conduct (academic integrity) and plagiarism: ensure that you attribute and/or reference any input from GenAI.
  • Privacy: always check the privacy settings to check what data the GenAI tool is collecting. You may find that anything you enter as a prompt is incorporated into the training data, including any personal or confidential data that you provide.
  • Misinformation ('hallucinations'): GenAI tools may give responses that look reliable but contain inaccurate information or fake references. Always check and verify GenAI responses with other credible sources.
  • Environmental impact: the training and use of GenAI requires large amounts of computing power.

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Can I trust GenAI outputs?

Many widely available GenAI tools, such as ChatGPT or Google Gemini, are not a reliable source of information. They may generate inaccurate, biased or misleading responses, including fabricating references. You can find guidance from the University of Southampton in this Student Hub Knowledge Base article. 

Gen AI is being incorporated into resources and services supported by the University, including the writing tool Grammarly and literature databases such as Web of Science. Always critically evaluate any information generated by any GenAI tools, considering potential biases, factual inaccuracies, and ethical considerations. 

Cite Them Right has background information on AI tools and academic work. If you do use GenAI as part of an assignment you need to acknowledge and reference the content used.  

Should I use GenAI tools for my course?

Please speak to your teaching staff for guidance that is specific to each module.

Before using a GenAI tool, consider: 

  • Privacy: Will the data you input become part of the tool's training data? If so, be mindful of sensitive information. 
  • Copyright: Ensure you have the rights to use the content you're inputting. For example, avoid uploading copyrighted material like textbook chapters without permission from the author or publisher. You can legally use your own original work, public domain material, or openly licensed content. 

Acknowledging and referencing GenAI

  • Acknowledging means disclosing that you used a Generative AI tool in the process of creating your work. Explain how you used GenAI, for example using it for brainstorming ideas, summarising background information, image generation or proofreading. Remember to check with your module teaching staff before using any GenAI for your assignments.
  • Referencing is required when you include the GenAI output in your work, for example as a quote. Cite Them Right has guidance on referencing artificial intelligence in different styles. This covers both content available to all on the internet as well as content you might reference as a personal communication. If you are unsure about use of GenAI please speak to your module teaching staff.  

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