We have addressed AI in other places in this textbook for one reason and one reason only: It’s a tool that is being used and if people are using it, we should be learning about it. We must first say that AI is neither inherently good or evil. It’s an algorithm, or a written step by step process meant to solve a problem or complete a task, that can produce content based on its database of information. It typically uses free and fair use websites such as Wikipedia, and journalistic websites such as the Atlantic who have given explicit permissions for AI data to be used. You may have heard about court cases where creators of AI algorithms have used material they didn’t have permission to use to train their programs. This all leans into the ethics of using AI when creating.

Where the ethics problem comes in is when we introduce humans to the equation. I won’t bore you with morality lectures and granddad platitudes such as “the reward for hard work is a job well done”. I will simply say this: Every single choice has a consequence. Should you choose to use AI and pass off the work as your own, you may not get caught immediately but at some point, someone will recognize it and that kind of choice can, and has, ruin(s) lives and cost jobs.

HOW DOES GENERATIVE AI WORK

AI has been in use since 1998 when google began indexing websites and creating an open access database that could tell you where internet websites existed. So how does a search engine, or AI algorithm work?

I can’t tell you explicitly, because it is proprietary information to each company. What I can tell you is an overview of how Large Language Models (LLM) algorithms work.

In the previous section, you saw that an algorithm is a step-by-step process to solve a problem or complete a task. Basically, the algorithm takes in the input, or request, processes it through the logical operations that the coders have written into the system, and produces an output.

Or, At its simplest explanation (explained to you by a writing scholar and not a computer scientist) You create a prompt and ask the algorithm to do or make something. It takes that request, runs it through the logical coded processes, and creates something as close to what you asked for as possible.

Again, AI is not good or evil, it is simply a math problem on steroids and it’s going to follow the steps to solve the equation to the best of its ability.

CRITICAL THINKING AND AI

Critical Thinking is looking at a situation and evaluating it to make a judgement. Critical thinking asks us to make connections and create ideas. Recall earlier in the book, we’ve talked about writing as making knowledge and critical thinking is one of the ways that we do that. AI can be helpful when it comes to building our critical thinking skills. It can help us identify patterns and themes in the readings we are using to create new knowledge. AI should not be allowed to tell us what to think about the information we are learning. Remember, All LLM’s can do is gather information and make the logical guess on what should be next in the sentence. It cannot give us our opinions. When we allow AI to do our thinking for us, we are not only giving away our ability to think, but we are effectively removing ourselves from participating in society and knowledge creation.

RECOGNIZING AI’S WORK

It is getting to be more and more difficult to recognize when AI has produced something and I can’t give you a step by step on how to recognize AI’s work. What I can tell you is that the more you engage with human voices in text, and human created art, the easier it is to recognize when AI has been used to create an entire document. Human voices are distinct and AI struggles to replicate them. Your professors (or future employers) may not always catch when you use AI to create documents, but they know how you speak, and when you turn in work that is technically different from the way you speak and think, it sets off alarms.

AI LITERACY AND ETHICAL USE

There is a lot of buzz around Artificial Intelligence these days. GAI or generative artificial intelligence, can be used for various purposes, including generating answers to questions that appear remarkably human. That students will be tempted to use GAI to help write their essays and bypass critical learning about their own writing processes is a concern amongst faculty. As such, we- students, administrators, and faculty-need to cultivate an ethical academic mindset in relation to AI to ensure that students attain the necessary learning and tools to be successful in their educational and workplace careers.

AI writing tools can be a great help to writers, but there are ethical considerations to keep in mind. Here are some ways to use AI ethically in your writing:

• Use it as a tool, not a replacement: AI is great for brainstorming, editing, or overcoming writer’s block, but don’t rely on it to solely generate your content. Maintain creative control and use AI to enhance your own writing. Overreliance on AI when composing hinders the writer in developing their own voice and an understanding of their own writing processes.
• Ensure accuracy and avoid bias: AI learns from the data it’s trained on, which can include biases. Fact-check everything AI generates and be mindful of potential biases in the output.
• Transparency and disclosure: If you use AI to assist with your writing, disclose it. This is especially important in academic or professional writing.
• Focus on originality and avoid plagiarism: Because AI doesn’t create original thought but instead relies upon all the material it’s been given, AI may create content that unintentionally resembles existing work. Review and edit AI-generated content to ensure originality and proper attribution of ideas. AI might also generate citations for citations and sources that don’t exist.
• Use reliable AI tools: Stick with reputable AI writing tools that prioritize accurate and unbiased content generation. Because we are in the beginning stages of GAI software development, every company is going to try to be the next Google or Netflix and not all of them are going to do it well. Stick with companies you know and trust, but as always be VERY critical about the usage. Remember: Name recognition does not always mean the better or more ethical system.
• Be careful about your own personal data: AI generators may store any information you give it, so be sure to safeguard your privacy and think twice about sharing personal information.

By following these principles, you can leverage AI as a valuable assistant in your writing process, while maintaining ethical practices and ensuring the quality and originality of your work.

Additional Resources

Ethical AI for Teaching and Learning-Cornell University https://teaching.cornell.edu/generative-artificial-intelligence/ethical-ai-teaching-and-learning#:~:text=Engaging%20with%20generative%20A.I.%20tools%20means%20using%20a,ways%20that%20may%20challenge%20 their%20work%E2%80%99s%20academic%20integrity

MLA-CCCC JOINT TASK FORCE ON WRITING AND AI

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