Guidelines for best practice

Contributors: the Spring 2025 class

After spending a semester creating with (or against) AI, we discussed the inevitability of AI and its increasing prevaisveness.

Below are recommended guidelines for best practice, use, and engagement with AI.

• AI is a collaborator
  • It is not a replacement for effort, creativity, and humanity, rather it is a tool for collaboration
  • Treat AI as a tutor and a resource, not a shortcut
  • It is not the final decision maker – Ultimately, you must make decisions that impact the lives of those around you
  • The final touch on any works – and the way we guide and utilize AI – should come from the user
• AI is a tool
  • It is the responsibility of the user to be responsible and thoughtful when using AI
  • Acknowledge your own mistakes and shortcomings when using AI
  • Always perform appropriate research into the most appropriate tool for the task at hand
• AI is not perfect
  • Stay curious and critical. Ask questions, verify facts, and be mindful of biases in AI, data, and self
  • Ask other sources to verify facts alongside your own research and experiences
• AI use mandates literacy
  • Know how to ask and get the desired outcome from AI use, know how to recognize AI-generated products (when possible), and question AI outputs and outcomes
  • Know when to use and not to use AI for educational purposes
  • Have the ability to judge the content generated by AI
  • Experiment with remixing AI outputs–collage, rewrite, or reinterpret them through your own lens
• AI requires acknowledgement
  • Always declare if AI was used/assisted in the final product and label content that has been generated by AI
  • When publishing, clearly cite AI as a source and explain how and when it was used
  • It must be attributed as such in all works in which it is used as a basis, including image generation, writing, and art
    • Follow all licenses as stated in the terms of use of any tools you use
    • Not stating a work is AI when it is unethical
    • Even if you do not directly state it is yours, not communicating it was made using AI implies it is your work
• AI is not empathetic
  • Professions should not use AI to make decisions that impact human lives
  • AI should not be used in fields that require humanistic care
  • People take precedent
• AI is variable and inconsistent
  • Since every person has different tastes, thoughts, and values, even when using the same tool, the outcome can vary
  • Generative AI should be used with a cognizance of moderation in effort to work against making in excess and the corresponding environmental harms

For further consideration:

We know what AI can do and what it can improve upon, but people also need to improve. People need to take accountability and ownership of their actions, interactions, and inactions with AI. Ultimately, AI is a human creation, reflection of the ideals of the majority, and possesses our biases and tendencies. Whenever using any tool, whether AI or any other resource (especially those based on the internet or those based on the education of the masses), always remain vigilant and critical.