One of the main concerns relates to academic integrity and the potential use of generative AI by students for producing their assessments. Generative AI tools produce different content each time they are used, even if the same input prompt is provided. 

Generative AI also presents opportunities for both staff and students.

• For students, used responsibly the tool could support effective study strategies and academic writing. Learning to use AI may also become a useful employability skill. 
• For academic staff, the tool could support curriculum development and presents opportunities to consider more authentic forms of assessment.

City St George's has established a task and finish group to consider the opportunities and challenges presented by generative AI. The task and finish group is co-chaired by Dr Julie Voce (LEaD) and Dr Simon Hayley (Bayes Business School) and overseen by the Digital Board. The group has representation from across City St George's.

The group is overseeing an action plan related to the following areas: 

• Promoting a better understanding of generative AI amongst staff and students in order to encourage responsible, ethical and effective use of these tools. 
• Updating the academic integrity policy and other regulations/guidance to confirm the University's position on the unauthorised use of generative AI by students in assessments. 
• Determining the implications for teaching and assessment and improvements to learning and assessment design.
• Agreeing when and how generative AI can be used by students and staff as a support tool.

City St George’s provides Microsoft Copilot free for all staff and students and you are recommended to use this tool: 

• About Copilot: Copilot uses the latest AI models, including GPT-4, so offers similar capabilities to ChatGPT-4. It can generate text based on prompts that use text, files or images.
• Accessing Copilot: You can access Microsoft Copilot at  copilot.microsoft.com, through the iOS or Android app, or in the Microsoft Edge sidebar and Windows 11. Ensure you log in with your University credentials to keep your data secure.
• Copilot privacy and security: Microsoft’s enterprise data protection is applied when you log in to Copilot with your University credentials, which means that data entered is kept private and is not used to train the underlying dataset. As with all generative AI tools, you should not enter personal, sensitive or confidential information nor submit copyrighted materials into the tool. 

Find out more about using Microsoft Copilot.

There are a range of other generative AI tools available. The most well-known is ChatGPT by OpenAI  which uses a chatbot interface for users to engage with the system; however, there are other tools available, including those embedded in search engines, existing software (such as Grammarly or Office 365) and computer coding editors.

Most tools require you to create an account which may be free or come at a cost. Free accounts are usually limited in terms of functionality or the number of times you can use the tool.

Some tools use the data you enter to train the generative AI large language model. It is therefore important that you familiarise yourself with the privacy policy for any tools you use and do not enter any personal, sensitive or confidential information.

In addition, ensure that you do not submit any copyrighted materials into the tools.

City St George's currently advises against the use of AI detection tools and as such we do not have the AI writing functionality available within Turnitin. We have concerns about accuracy of these tools and legal and data protection implications related to submitting student assessments to third-party tools. In addition detection tools may be biased against non-native speakers of English and students who make use of assistive technologies, such as Grammarly, to support their writing.

The video Against GenerativeAI detection by Cesare G Ardito from the University of Manchester explains some of the challenges with detection tools. 

Students may use generative AI to support their learning, for example to clarify key concepts or understanding, or to support revision; however, use of generative AI for assessment is only permitted, where they have been instructed by their module tutor or programme director to do so.

• View guidance for students
  

• Guard rails: staff guidance on the use of Generative AI
• Microsoft Copilot
• GenAI upskilling programme for staff