Students are often accustomed to using AI in their everyday lives. However, when they begin university, new questions arise. Is it permitted to use AI? Where is the boundary between acceptable use and cheating? Do I need to disclose that I have used AI? Can I trust the answers it provides?
Many students turn to the University Library for guidance. They are looking for clear rules and want to ensure they are doing the right thing, say the librarians, who have compiled the most common questions into seven categories.
The boundary between language support and content generation
Questions in this category concern whether it is acceptable to use AI to improve language, translate text, or make writing more academic.
Assessing whether AI use is appropriate or permitted forms part of academic information literacy. Students need to develop their own ability to judge and understand when the use of AI may be acceptable. Responsibility for the content, facts and reasoning always rests with the student. If the question relates to a coursework assignment, examination or similar assessment, students should always check with the course lecturer what is permitted.
Academic integrity and independent work
Questions in this category also concern what students may and may not do with the help of AI, where the line between acceptable use and cheating lies, and why AI may be allowed in coursework or a module but not in an examination.
Students are often seeking clear rules about what is and is not permitted. They are concerned about cheating or plagiarism and want to ensure they act appropriately. The answer, again, is to find out what applies to the specific module or course. Even where generative AI is allowed, restrictions may apply, for example regarding which tools may be used and how they may be used.
Transparency and disclosure of AI use
In this category, students are also asking for clear and consistent guidance. Typical questions include: “Why do lecturers say different things in different modules? Some lecturers allow or even encourage us to use AI, while others do not want to discuss AI at all.” Or: “I used ChatGPT to generate ideas. Do I need to mention that somewhere?”
The answer is that AI use must be disclosed whenever a course or lecturer requires it. The university’s guidance for teaching staff on the use of AI also states that students should receive both verbal and written information at the start of a course and in connection with assessed work regarding whether the use of generative AI is permitted, preferably including examples of acceptable and unacceptable use.
Information literacy and critical evaluation in an AI environment
Questions in this category may concern whether AI-generated answers can be trusted or why a source cited by an AI tool cannot be found.
The answer is that AI-generated information must be evaluated critically, just like any other source. Most students are aware of this, but not all carry out such checks or know how to do so effectively.
Functionality, data protection and appropriate use
Here, students ask which AI tool they should choose and which is best suited to their studies.
The answer is that choosing a tool is not only about functionality. It is also about secure and responsible handling of information. The generative AI tool provided by Karlstad University is Copilot, which has undergone a risk and vulnerability assessment. More information about Copilot can be found via the link below.
Privacy, personal data and information security
In this category, questions concern whether it is permissible to upload a dissertation, essay or interview material to an AI tool in order to obtain help with analysis.
The answer is that this is primarily a matter of data protection, GDPR compliance and information security. Students are encouraged to use Copilot responsibly and not allow it to process:
- Other people’s personal data that directly identifies an individual.
- Confidential or sensitive personal data.
- Material they do not have the right to use freely.
- Other information that requires protection and would therefore be inappropriate to enter into the service.
Further information
The University Library has compiled information about generative AI, including a flowchart to help determine whether the use of AI is appropriate in a given situation:
Further information about Microsoft Copilot, the AI tool that Karlstad University makes available to students, can be found here. The page also includes a link to the document Guidance for Teachers and Students:
