Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the development of algorithms and systems that can learn from data, recognise patterns, and make decisions or predictions based on those algorithms or systems.

Examples of AI applications in everyday life include chatbots, image or voice recognition software, autonomous vehicles, and recommendation systems (for films, music, or online shopping).

AI can offer both benefits and challenges to universities. On the one hand, it can offer ideas, different perspectives, whilst on the other hand, it can impact learning and produce misinformation. In Information Services, we have been working with colleagues across the University to help support its safe and ethical use.

This webpage is designed to give you an overview of our AI guidance as well as consider how it can be used across the University’s many functions.

If you have any generic questions around AI use, contact Information Services (is@aber.ac.uk). For students, if you have queries around acceptable AI use for your assignments, contact your tutor or module co-ordinator.

Policies and Safety

There are many 3rd party AI tools out there. As with all 3rd party software, you should ensure that you are using it safely, responsibly, and ethically.

The University’s recommended AI tool is Microsoft Copilot. This is built into our Microsoft Licence.

If you are using 3rd party software, ensure that you are not entering any personal information relating to yourself or others. Make sure you look at the product’s Privacy Policy to ensure that you know what personal data the software is collecting about you and how and where your data is being stored.

For more detailed guidance on safety, see the General Guidance on the safe use of AI.

If you are concerned that you have committed a data breach, contact infogovernance@aber.ac.uk as soon as possible and provide the information requested in the How do I report a breach guidance.

Using AI for your Studies

There are many advantages to using AI as part of your studies, as long as it is used ethically and safely.

It can help you create structure, assist with formatting, review the tone of your writing, interpretation of data, and clarifying meaning.

Your subject librarians have been working on guidance for its use.

This includes:

The University has updated its regulation on Unacceptable Academic Practice, noting that plagiarism includes presenting work generated by AI as if it were your own.  

To assist with transparency, you might be asked to engage with a Tool-use statement that outlines which AI tools you have used.

You should seek clarification from your academic tutors if you are unsure as to whether it is acceptable to use AI in your studies or assignments.

Using AI for your Teaching

The University has produced guidance for staff about the impact of AI on learning and teaching activities, such as assessment:

There are training sessions available for colleagues on:

  • AI for Learning and Teaching Activities
  • Rethinking assessment in the age of AI

Colleagues can book their place online.

In addition to considering the impact of AI on student assessment, the University has resources and tools available to help staff safely and ethically integrate AI into their learning and teaching.

Blackboard now has the Blackboard AI Design Assistant enabled meaning that colleagues can use it in their courses. The AI Design Assistant helps colleagues to create a structure for their course, provides ideas around assessment design, participatory activities, and test or question prompts. For further information, see Blackboard AI Design Assistant Tools.

Before using the tools, we encourage colleagues to engage with the Blackboard AI Design Assistant Principles to ensure its appropriate use.

Training is available for colleagues on the Blackboard AI Design Assistant.

Colleagues can book their place online.

Vevox, polling software, also contains an AI question generator to help colleagues create and build polls more quickly. Take a look at Vevox’s guidance to see how to use this.  

Using AI for your Research

Use of AI in research can have significant ethical implications.  Guidance in this area is still being developed, but there may be local departmental, or discipline-specific guidance available.  Overarching best practice can be found in General Guidance on the safe use of AI.

If your research falls within the scope of the Research Ethics Panel, they may review any use of AI within your research processes, whether that be as part of a preparatory exercise, or as a core feature of the research.  Details relating to the work of the Research Ethics Panel and associated processes can be found at https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/rbi/support-services/ethics/  They will also be able to provide advice prior to the commencement of any research or ethical review.

A useful overview of the factors that need consideration when using AI in Research can be accessed here: https://ukrio.org/ukrio-resources/ai-in-research/

Using AI for your Administration

AI can also be used for administrative activities, such as summarising long documents, creating a structure for reports, and reorganising information you have already written.

The University’s recommended AI tool is Copilot, which is part of our Microsoft Licence.

See the Using Copilot for productivity at Aberystwyth University guide.

Remember to avoid uploading personal information (about identifiable individuals) or other confidential information to Copilot.