BOTTOM LINE:
Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT can be used responsibly in research and writing, but be transparent about your use of AI tools and keep in mind that they are not a valid academic source of evidence or information.
IMPORTANT TO KNOW: Generative AI tools create plausible-sounding statements that may not be true or that may be biased; the tools have no ability to "know" if outputs are true. Like personal communication, AI output is often not readily accessible to readers.
YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES:
If you use generative AI, follow the guidance below. Check for updates often, as AI technologies and citation guidance are changing rapidly.
| How Are You Using Generative AI? | Follow This Guidance |
|---|---|
| To support my writing process (e.g., outlining, improving clarity, fixing grammar errors) | You do not need to cite or otherwise acknowledge use of generative AI to support your writing when you use it as you might use other common tools and resources, like grammar-checking software or feedback from a reader. Ensure that your thinking and voice are dominant. |
| To generate text that I then copy and paste into my work | Do not present AI-generated text as your own writing. Including AI-generated text should be avoided in academic writing unless specified by your instructor. If you need to include lines or passages of AI-generated text in a document, place them in quotation marks and cite the AI tool you used, following current guidance from APA or Chicago (for IEEE, follow Chicago). |
| As a source of information | While generative AI can help you develop initial understanding of a topic, it should not be cited in your work as an academic source. Instead, verify AI output by finding the information in credible sources. Cite these credible sources in your work. |
| To generate text that I then paraphrase or summarize in my work | Paraphrasing or summarizing generative AI should be rare in academic work. If you need to paraphrase or summarize AI-generated text in your work, disclose your use of AI and cite the AI tool you used, following current guidance from APA or Chicago (for IEEE, follow Chicago). |
| To identify source citations for my research | Tools like ChatGPT and Bing’s AI Search often fabricate citations that seem real for sources that do not actually exist. Check that sources are real by searching for them on the library website or using tools like Google Scholar. |
| To generate images that I then include in my work | Be transparent about use of AI-generated images in your work, even when you modify them. Cite the AI tool you used as the image source, following your citation style's guidance for citing borrowed and adapted images. |
| To generate programming code that I then include in my work | Acknowledge the use of AI-generated programming code in your academic work and in the source code itself unless your instructor says otherwise. Review MIT’s guidance and check with your instructor. |
| As part of my research methodology (e.g., to generate interview questions, develop case scenarios) | If you use generative AI as part of your methodology, say so in your document, including as much detail as necessary for transparency (e.g., the prompts you used) and cite it following current guidance from APA or Chicago (for IEEE, follow Chicago). You might also append your conversations with generative AI to the work you submit. |
For more information on how to ethically and responsibly use generative AI in academic work, consult the NPS Interim Guiding Principles for Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools and the NPS Generative AI Resource Hub.
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