What are Generative AI tools?
Google Gemini, Microsoft CoPilot, and ChatGPT are examples of "generative artificial intelligence" or "large language models." These tools differ from a Google search - where you are given results to a specific search inquiry. Instead GenAI tools create “new content” by predicting the word most likely to come next (e.g. based on publicly available Internet sites including Wikipedia and YouTube transcripts).
Large Language Learning Models (LLMs), like Google Gemini, ChatGPT and Microsoft CoPilot, are designed to model human language. They use mathematical models to predict what the next word is most likely to be based on what you are asking for, but because they use natural language, it "feels" like they are thinking. GenAI tools are trained on HUGE dataset of publicly available Internet sites including places like Wikipedia and Youtube transcripts. Evaluation of the quality of the sources is not a part of the GenAI output.
One main way users interact with these GenAI tools is to ask it a question, or give it a prompt and receive a quick answer.
Using GenAI tools at the UMN
Publishers typically prohibit (through licensing) upload of research, magazine, and newspaper articles (including those used for course readings) to third-party services like AI tools. Do not upload materials produced by others or licensed materials unless you have explicit permission or the material is covered under a known exemption or license. For more information read the Libraries Acceptable Use of Electronic Resources.
UMN Policies
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Artificial Intelligence: Appropriate Use of Generative AI ToolsThe UMN Office of Information Technology (OIT) has developed guidelines on appropriate use of generative AI tools.
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Guidance on the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) from University RelationsArtificial Intelligence (AI) can be a helpful marketing and communications tool. Generative AI and Large Language Models (LLMs) have permeated all facets of the workplace, allowing new ways to create and manage workflow. University Marketing Communications aims to supply guidance for using this new technology and will update this guidance as AI and its uses evolve.
GenAI+U: A student learning experience
At the end of this learning experience, learners will be able to:
- define key terms related to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Generative AI (GenAI)
- describe how AI systems are created and trained
- articulate the key capabilities, limitations and environmental considerations of Generative AI
Challenges and possibilities of GenAI tools
Ethical concerns of using GenAI or other AI tools:
There are a variety of valid and serious ethical concerns with this technology broadly including:
- exploitative labor practices in the creation of and training of tools
- social, cultural, economic impacts (many of which are unknown yet)
- Bias and discrimination (bias amplifier) in the content the tools are trained with
- Privacy and copyright in terms of “sharing” material with a tool with extreme caution. Also ethical considerations of the copyright owners of the content the tools are trained with
- Environmental impact (energy, water, etc.) of creating, training and using tools
It is useful to be aware of these ethical challenges so you can be critical and make decisions on using the tools.
Challenges of using GenAI or other LLMs
- There is a mix of correct and incorrect information
- Has limited knowledge of very current events in the world (e.g. last week, last month, etc.)
- Likelihood of biased content is high - especially for controversial topics (these tools have been called bias amplifiers)
- Privacy concerns -- what is the company doing with the data it collects from users?
- Beware of asking for any information that would have big consequences if it was incorrect (such as health, financial, legal advice, and so on). It has a tendency to make up answers or give a mix of correct and incorrect information, but still sound very confident.
Benefits of using GenAI or other LLMs
- Can provide simple explanations to well known, non-controversial topics. These tools can help to explain information in ways that are easy to understand.
- Can help to get unstuck or move on to the next steps of a task
- Can create a list of keywords, search terms
- Helping write or debug computing code
- Summarizing and outlining texts - but remember the tool doesn't know the most important point but instead is guessing the next best word - so verify that the summary is accurate.
What are prompts? Prompt engineering?
Prompts are the things you write into the tool to try to get it to do what you want. Better prompts can help you to try to get better outputs. These tools need very specific instructions, and they need you to verify/critically evaluate the information or output they give you and give them feedback so they can get better at the task. Learn more about prompts or a course like Prompt Engineering for Chat GPT.
Video: AI tools and research
- Describe how AI works
- Understand how (and if) you can use AI for your research
- List some major concerns experts have about the current state of AI