Using AI tools like ChatGPT

Yes, you can use AI tools in your academic career, but note that these are tools, not shortcuts. We want to know what YOU think, not what ChatGPT can generate or paraphrase. That's why you're here!

Mostly interested in using AI tools for editing and text generation in your projects? Click here to jump to those policies!

Smartcases and Exams

AI tools are not permitted for smartcases and exams. The use of these tools in assessments would constitute an academic integrity violation.

Projects and Assignments

The text produced through the use of such tools should not replace the substance of your assignment.

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Acceptable uses

(this is not an exhaustive list)

Creating Visual Aids

AI tools are great for quickly developing copyright-free diagrams or illustrative images.

Research support

Generate a list of sources (e.g. articles) that you can use as a starting point for your research - note that AI tools are notorious for making up publications!

Idea Exploration/Evaluation

Using AI as a sounding board to illuminate the pros/cons of your idea, proposal, or strategy. Asking directly for a strategy or response goes against the spirit of the assignment.

Editing

Upload your originally written draft and ask for an edit for brevity, clarity, or tone.

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Unacceptable uses

(this is not an exhaustive list)

Assignment Generation

Generating a complete response to an assignment prompt. This goes against the point of the assignment and would be considered a violation of academic integrity.

Avoiding Technical Plagiarism

Copying and pasting text from various sources (even if you cite them!) and prompt an ai tool to summarize it. This is similar to assignment generation, and defeats the purpose of the assignment. We want to know what you think, not just what you can find.

Falsifying Data

generating "fake" or "sample" data to use in your analysis. As a means of practicing data analysis or visualization this would be an acceptable use, but it is not an appropriate basis for decisions in market, business, or industry analysis.

Watch out for Plagiarism

Quantic takes academic integrity very seriously—we define plagiarism as: “Knowingly representing the work of others as one’s own, engaging in any acts of plagiarism, or referencing the works of others without appropriate citation.” This includes both misusing or not using proper citations for the works referenced, and submitting someone else’s work as your own.

And do note that AI tools constantly make up and/or use direct quotations without marking or citing them, and for including inaccuracies. You will bear the responsibility for any errors or code of conduct violations in anything you turn in, so failure to treat these like traditional sources could get you flagged for plagiarism.

You should think of these tools the same way you think of articles and reports — take in the information then contextualize it to your own situation, analyze how and why it matters, and present it so that it’s clearly relevant, not generic information. And always cite.

Citing AI

Even though these tools are generating "new" text, you’re still using them as a source and as such, they must be cited. Here's how:

In Text

Syntax:

(AI Tool, short prompt description, date)

Example:

(ChatGPT, ice cream prompt. 2023)

Reference List

Syntax:

AI Tool Name. AI URL. Date generated. “Prompt - exact wording - this can be long and should be the last revision of the prompt that was used.” Short description of generated material.

Example:

ChatGPT. chat.openai.com/chat. February 7, 2023. “Give me a 5 point list of factors to consider when determining the launch strategy for a Guanajuato based ice cream shop. Consider tourism trends, labor supply, price elasticity of demand, demand and supply, general income trends and any micro or macro economic theories that are relevant.” 300 word document, list with conclusion.

AI Tools for Editing and Text Generation

Generating responses to assignment prompts is not permitted.
Using AI to edit, clarify, or revise your own original text for your assignment is permitted at Quantic and Valar, but you must acknowledge that use. Note that this level of disclosure would not be required in a professional context , it's because this is an academic environment.

What to do

You will do two things to clarify your use of AI Tools:

Add an Author's Note

This is an acknowledgement of the ways you used AI in your work. It should go at the beginning of your work, on a page between the cover and the table of contents. Name the tools, describe how they were used.Here's an example you can edit and revise:

Sample Author's note on AI:

The authors used ChatGPT (OpenAI) to aid in contextual research, source discovery, ideation, and concept refinement. In addition, Claude (Anthropic) was used for synthesis, summarization, editing, and proofreading. Midjourney was used for image generation. The authors acknowledge accountability for the content in this document, and recognize that AI tool use disclosure does not excuse responsibility for errors, inaccuracies, or plagiarism.

AND

Add In context notations:

editing/summarization - Where there are specific sections that were largely summarized/edited with ai, note that with an in text citation
Examples: (ChatGPT for summarization, 2024), (Gemini for editing)
text generation, that should be noted in a parenthetical, and then fully cited using our method:
Examples: (Text generated using ChatGPT, edited by author), (Draft developed with Claude, compiled by author)