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Use Guidelines & Ethics
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general
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https://ai.tamu.edu/teach-with-ai/use-guidelines-and-ethics.html
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Use Guidelines & Ethics

Source: https://ai.tamu.edu/teach-with-ai/use-guidelines-and-ethics.html Parent: https://aggiehonor.tamu.edu/index.html

Purpose

The purpose of this page is to provide recommendations and guidance on the responsible use of generative AI at Texas A & M University, ensuring its potential benefits are maximized while minimizing risks to academic integrity, privacy and other ethical use considerations.

Ethical Considerations

At Texas A&M University, we are dedicated to fostering innovation and excellence in advancing research, informing scholarship, and enhancing education and teaching methodologies across disciplines. Generative AI use at Texas A&M University should adhere to the same ethical principles used in other aspects of education, research, and operations, including privacy, fairness, transparency, bias, and accountability. We must ensure that we implement algorithms that incorporate fairness measures and conduct routine audits to detect and address prejudices. Everyone should ensure the AI systems are transparent and explainable to professors and students, to increase trust and responsibility.

Data Privacy and Security

When interacting with generative AI systems, it is crucial to recognize that these platforms may collect, store, and process personal data, potentially leading to privacy risks if not properly managed. Everyone must follow data privacy and security guidelines when using generative AI, protecting personal and institutional data.   

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Author's Rights

Creators maintain ownership of their original works and the moral and legal rights associated with them. The use of copyrighted materials to train generative AI models must respect these rights, ensuring that authors are properly credited, and their works are not exploited without permission. 

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Transparency

As a leading R1 institution, we recognize the critical importance of transparency in the development and application of generative AI systems. This includes clearly documenting the use of AI-generated content, properly attributing AI-assisted contributions in research and academic work, ensuring that the implementation of such tools aligns with the University’s policies and broader ethical standards. 

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Academic Integrity

When using generative AI, users must acknowledge the use of nontrivial AI-generated content and avoid plagiarism. This includes properly citing AI-generated content in academic work and ensuring that AI-generated content does not violate academic integrity policies. It is permissible to use AI for correcting spelling and grammar and for formatting references, but not for generating new text. The faculty should provide clear instructions about permissible AI uses in their courses. This should include specific guidance on academic integrity policies related to AI tools.  

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Bias

Biases in training data or algorithms lead to distorted and potentially harmful outcomes, impacting organizational success and societal participation. Impartiality in AI is fundamental to ensuring that all audiences, data, inputs, outputs, features, and objectives are treated with equality, fairness, and justice. 

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Accountability

Faculty, students, and staff must hold themselves accountable for the decisions and actions taken by the AI systems that they choose to use. Users are also responsible for reviewing the accuracy of any output they generate using a generative AI tool.

Compliance and Enforcement

Non-compliance with Texas A&M University policies may result in disciplinary action, including academic penalties or loss of access to AI tools and services. Users should report violations to the appropriate authorities at Texas A&M University.  

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Additional References

Responsible AI Use Quick Guide

Teach

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Learn

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Research

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Work

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Training and Support

Texas A&M University provides comprehensive resources and support for learning about and using generative AI through workshops, tutorials, and dedicated help centers. AI literacy training is actively available for faculty, staff and students. There are multiple resources provided by Texas A&M University that offer guidance on course policies, syllabus considerations, and the ethical implementation of AI tools in academic settings. Resources can be accessed through CTE (Center for Teaching Excellence), TAMIDS (Texas A&M Institute of Data Science), Division of Research, Technology Services.

Open Resources

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Practical Use in AI

AI in Adaptive and Responsive Teaching

Educators can leverage AI to enhance teaching and learning in the following ways:

Personalized Learning

AI-powered platforms can analyze student data to create tailored learning experiences by: 

Intelligent Tutoring Systems

These AI-powered systems can supplement faculty instruction by: 

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Content Creation and Lesson Planning

AI tools can assist faculty in developing course materials by: 

AI in Personalized Learning Experiences

Students can utilize AI tools to enhance their learning outcomes and skill mastery. Courses might use or require AI tools. Here are some ways students might experience or leverage AI in the classroom: 

AI-Enhanced Learning Platforms

Your courses may utilize AI-powered learning management systems that: 

Automated Grading and Feedback

Some assignments may be graded using AI tools that: 

AI-Powered Research Assistants

You may have access to AI tools that support your research efforts by: 

Language Learning and Translation

AI-powered language tools may be available to support language courses and international students: 

Ethical Use of Generative AI Best Practices

Faculty at Texas A&M University

As a faculty member at Texas A&M University, you have a responsibility to use generative AI tools ethically and responsibly in your teaching, research, and professional activities. This section provides guidelines and best practices for incorporating AI into your work while upholding the university's values and academic integrity standards. 

Teaching with AI

When using AI in the classroom, faculty should: 

Research and Scholarship

When using AI in research and scholarly activities, faculty should: 

Professional Development and Service

As AI becomes more prevalent in higher education, faculty should: 

Staff at Texas A&M University

As a staff member at Texas A&M University, you play a crucial role in supporting the institution's mission and values. When using generative AI tools in your work, it is essential to do so ethically and responsibly to ensure the best outcomes for the university community. This section provides guidelines and best practices for incorporating AI into your administrative tasks and decision-making processes. 

Enhancing Efficiency and Productivity

Staff can use AI to streamline workflows and improve efficiency in various ways: 

Ensuring Data Privacy and Security

When using AI tools that handle sensitive data, staff must: 

Promoting Fairness and Equity

Staff should strive to use AI in ways that promote fairness and equity: 

Staying Informed and Engaged

To use AI effectively and responsibly, staff should: 

Students at Texas A&M University

As a student at Texas A&M University, you will encounter various AI tools and technologies designed to enhance the learning experience. This section provides guidelines and best practices for incorporating AI into your course tasks and learning processes. 

Understand Course Policies
Use AI as a Learning Assistant, not a Replacement
Verify AI-Generated Content
Cite AI Appropriately
Develop AI Literacy
Maintain Data Privacy

Additional References

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is generative AI and how can it enhance education?

Generative AI refers to algorithms that can create new data, such as text, images, or music. In academia, generative AI can be used to develop hands-on learning experiences that promote programming, creativity, and problem-solving skills.

2. What are the advantages of using generative AI in education?

Generative AI offers numerous benefits, such as personalized learning experiences, fostering creativity and critical thinking skills, and enabling students to explore and experiment with new technologies.

3. How can generative AI be utilized to improve teaching?

Generative AI can help faculty save time by automating repetitive tasks, summarizing complex information, providing instant feedback to students, and improving accessibility by translating documents and lessons into different languages.

4. What are some examples of generative AI projects for students?

Students can engage in various generative AI projects, such as creating generative art, music, chatbots, developing language translation models, or using AI-generated story prompts to develop creative writing skills.

5. Are there any privacy concerns when using generative AI in education?

Yes, it is essential to prioritize data privacy and security when using generative AI. Sensitive information should not be entered into generative AI tools unless a risk assessment has been conducted, and the tool has been approved to handle such information. Additionally, outputs generated by AI may raise complex copyright questions, including whether the generated content infringes on existing copyrights or if it constitutes a new, protectable work. Be aware of how models gather information to generate information and content and avoid unintentional copyright violations by ddocumenting the information being used by the various AI tools.

6. How should staff disclose the use of generative AI in their work?

Staff should disclose the use of generative AI when it is used for tasks that can impact decisions or have ethical or legal implications. However, disclosure is not necessary for minor tasks or when significant edits are made to the AI-generated output.

7. Can professors require students to use generative AI for assignments?

Yes, professors can require students to use generative AI tools for assignments, but with certain restrictions based on the instructions provided in the syllabus for that particular course. Professors should encourage the use of university-approved AI tools and not require students to create accounts with non-university AI tools that require sharing personal information.

8. What uses of generative AI constitute cheating?

Submitting work created by generative AI, substantially or in whole, as one's own without proper acknowledgment constitutes cheating and violates academic integrity policies. 

Check Aggie Honor Code

9. How can faculty deter inappropriate use of generative AI in student assignments?

Faculty can deter inappropriate use of generative AI by designing assignments that focus on the process rather than the product to ensure critical thinking skills are used. Faculty should be using examples not found in AI training data, and requiree students to present their work and discuss their methods, and incorporatee low-stakes assignments and formative feedback throughout the course to ensure proper understanding of the concepts.

Additional References

Detection Tools

Learn more about the use of AI detection tools and best practices.

Stay Informed on New Developments

Keep up-to-date with evolving AI technologies and ethics. Participate in training sessions and contribute to the university's AI knowledge base by sharing your experiences and use cases.

Approved AI for Aggies

Prioritize the use of AI tools officially sanctioned by Texas A&M. For more advanced needs, consult with Technology Services for approved enterprise-level AI solutions.