Research Questions

Artificial intelligence, or AI, is the overarching concept where computers and machines mimic the problem-solving and decision-making capabilities of the human mind (IBM, n.d.).

A lot of what we see now in college and the workplace is the use of generative AI and large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT. Generative AI or Large Language Models (LLMs) is a computer program using large language models that learn by studying and connecting large amounts of text on the Internet. They use this information to answer questions, generate responses or content, create images, video, and audio, translate languages, and more.

ChatGPT (Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer) is, according to ChatGPT itself, “a computer program created by OpenAI that can understand and generate text like a human. It has been trained on a huge amount of text, so it can respond to questions and have conversations in a way that sounds natural. For example, if you ask ChatGPT a question, it will use what it has learned to generate a response that makes sense and is relevant to your question. This can make it easier and more enjoyable for people to communicate with technology.”

Adapted from Essex College, Montana State Univ. LibGuide.

Depending on the tool, when performing research, you can:

1. Conversational AI: 

   1. Ask AI to help generate a research question or topic

   2. Ask AI to act as a writing partner to help you think through concepts

   3. Ask AI to summarize a text for you

   4. Ask AI to create a citation for you in a specific style

2. Language translation: translate text from language to another

3. Text generation: get preliminary background information about a common topic to start your research. For example, ELICIT can find relevant papers, summarize key takeaways from papers, and extract key information from papers.

BUT! AI is not perfect. KEEP IN MIND:

• ChatGPT is trained to sound like a human, not necessarily trained to be factually accurate or correct
• AI will plagiarize and may give you made up citations or information (hallucinations)
• It is human-like but for most of us, it sounds like a robot. This is not the tool to use for personalized essays or discussions 
• Lack of creativity and diversity: AI pulls from existing information. Depending on how your pose your question or instructions, AI tool may not be able to produce anything useful. It may also just copy a boring or not interesting topic.

• Confidentiality: AI tools collect user information that cannot be deleted - and may share information with third-party vendors.  Consider this privacy concern as you use these tools.  

• Bias: AI can produce sexist, racist or otherwise biased results

• Copyright Risks:  AI may grab copyright and intellectual property from others without citation

• Lack of originality: AI may produce output that is not unique so you sound like everyone else!

• Commercialization: many AI tools are paid with free basics. Full use of the tool must be bought.

• Highly unregulated: major concerns about tools' risks and a want to develop shared protocols for AI tools.

Adapted from HCC AI Library Guide.

MLA Citations for AI

In March 2023, MLA provided guidance for citing responses from ChatGPT or output from another generative AI tool.

General AI Citation Format for MLA:
"Description of chat" prompt. Name of AI tool, version of AI tool, Company, Date of chat, URL.

Example: 
"Examples of harm reduction initiatives" prompt. ChatGPT, 23 Mar. version, OpenAI, 4 Mar. 2023, chat.openai.com/chat.

In-Text Citation Example:
("Examples of harm reduction")

If you create a shareable link to the chat transcript, include that instead of the tool's URL.

MLA also recommends acknowledging when you used the tool in a note or your text as well as verifying any sources or citations the tool supplies.
 

From How do I cite generative AI in MLA style? and Butler Libraries Tutorial.

APA Citations for AI

In April 2023, APA provided guidance for citing responses from ChatGPT or output from another generative AI tool.

Include a description of the prompt when quoting output from a generative AI tool in your paper. Use the author of the AI algorithm - or the company who produced the tool - in both the in-text citation and full reference. It may be worthwhile to include the chat's transcript as an appendix to your project.

General AI Citation Format for APA:
Author. (Date). Name of tool (Version of tool) [Large language model]. URL
Example:
OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (Mar 14 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat

In-Text Citation Example:
(OpenAI, 2023)

Adapted from APA: How to cite ChatGPT? and Butler Libraries tutorial.

Chicago Style Citation for AI

According to Chicago Style, you must credit ChatGPT when you reproduce its words within your own work, but unless you include a publicly available URL, that information should be put in the text or in a note. DO NOT CITE AI TOOLS IN YOUR BIBLIOGRAPHY OR REFERENCE LIST. Other AI-generated text can be cited similarly.

Author-Date Format for In-text Chicago Style Citation:

“(ChatGPT, March 7, 2023).”

If the prompt hasn’t been included in the text, it can be included in the note:

1. ChatGPT, response to “Explain how to make pizza dough from common household ingredients,” OpenAI, March 7, 2023.

Endnote or Footnote on AI tool:

1. Text generated by ChatGPT, OpenAI, March 7, 2023, https://chat.openai.com/chat.