Generative AI: Supporting AI Literacy, Research, and Publishing

To borrow a metaphor, you don't need to be a mechanic in order to drive a car. To be a competent (and arguably safe) driver, though, you do need to build a set of essential driving skills, including a knowledge of: The controls and features that each car (irrespective of brand) offers, dashboard symbols, signaling, steering, accelerating and braking, an understanding of road signs, and a knowledge of common traffic laws.

In the same way, you don't need to be a data scientist, programmer, or application developer to be AI literate. However, you do need to have a basic understanding of what artificial intelligence is, what it isn't, how it works, and how to use it ethically and legally.

Generative AI can have many applications and implications for students, including the need to build AI literacy skills and develop an ethical framework for leveraging Generative AI content creation tools. Developing AI literacy can help you:

• Understand the basics of artificial intelligence and how Generative AI tools are created;
• Determine if/when to use Generative AI in your academic coursework or research;
• Generate effective prompts using either original prompts or prompt-generators;
• Think critically about the tools and purpose of content produced with Generative AI;
• Cite Generative AI outputs and support as they contribute to your coursework or research; and
• Articulate the implications and risks of using Generative AI for content production within academic, work, and life settings.