Artificial Intelligence (AI): Academic Integrity and AI

Citing sources is a fundamental part of academic integrity. It:

• Gives credit to the original creator’s ideas and words.
• Strengthens your argument by showing the foundation of your research.
• Helps avoid plagiarism—the act of claiming another person's language, thoughts, ideas, or expressions as your own.
• Provides a clear reference so that others can locate and verify the original source.

Submitting content generated by AI is not considered your own work. Many writing tools, including Grammarly, Google Translate, and Google Docs, integrate AI features, so be mindful of how you use them.

Unauthorized use of ChatGPT or other Generative AI tools is considered cheating and/or plagiarism.

Instructors have the expertise and tools to detect AI-generated content, so always ensure that your work reflects your own understanding and effort. Check with your instructor for each course to find out the policy on using ChatGPT and similar Generative AI tools. If you are unsure about using AI in an assignment, ask for guidance to avoid potential academic integrity issues.

APA (7th Edition)

• In-text citation: (OpenAI, 2023)

• Reference list:
  OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (Mar 14 version) [Large language model]. [Online tool]. https://chat.openai.com/chat

Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS)

• Author-Date Style (In-text): (ChatGPT, March 7, 2023)

• Reference List: Not required—cite in text only.

• Notes-Bibliography Style: Refer to official CMOS guidelines for formatting.

MLA (9th Edition)

• In-text citation (paraphrased):
  While the green light in The Great Gatsby may symbolize optimism, the unattainability of the American Dream, greed, and covetousness ("Describe the symbolism"), its overarching theme is greed.

• Works Cited entry:
  "Describe the symbolism of the green light in the book The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald" prompt. ChatGPT, 13 Feb. version, OpenAI, 8 Mar. 2023, chat.openai.com/chat.

• Fabricated Citations: AI models may generate citations for sources that do not exist.
• Lack of Specific, Identifiable Sources: AI does not pull directly from a specific database but generates responses based on its training data. This makes verifying its sources difficult.
• Potential for Misinformation: AI is only as good as its training data, which, in some cases, is outdated.
• Bias and Contradictions: AI can produce biased or contradictory information due to the sources it was trained on.

To verify information, consider these approaches:

1. Check Library Search Tools – Use MVC Viking Search to explore a wide range of resources, including books, films, documents, and scholarly articles. 

2. Use Library Databases –Explore trusted academic sources through the MVC Library A-Z Databases page. Choose a database, enter relevant keywords, and compare its content with AI-generated information. Library databases offer high-quality, peer-reviewed materials for reliable research.

3. Verify with U.S. Government Sources – To verify AI-generated content with authoritative government sources, visit USA.gov, the official search engine for U.S. government information.

4. Compare with Newspapers – Newspapers provide timely and updated information, making them a valuable resource for verifying AI-generated content. Consulting credible news sources can help ensure accuracy, particularly for current events.

"How to use ChatGPT and other AI tools as a college student...WITHOUT CHEATING."  YouTube, uploaded by George Fox Digital, Aug.1, 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VR9X9kRdgbk.