To further our collective commitment to education we recognize that the potential transformative benefits of emerging, experimental artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT, DALL-E, etc. must be used with caution so that we avoid known pitfalls such as privacy violations, misinformation, bias, and copyright infringement. These guidelines are intended to support institutional standards for privacy, safety, ethical practices, and data security.
AI tools and associated data fall within the public domain and lack security and data regulation compliance features. Therefore, when using public AI tools never enter or upload sensitive or restricted data per OIT Rule - Office of Information Technology Data Classification and Encryption, including protected health information (PHI), FERPA- protected data, personally identifiable information (PII), donor information, intellectual property (IP) information, and payment card industry (PCI) information.
AI-generated responses can be false. They can “hallucinate” sources and, when trained with data containing inaccuracies, the output is prone to be unreliable. This is particularly evident in AI tools that draw from extensive datasets available on the internet and other public sources, which often include inaccurate information. Consequently, if AI output is used as a source in research or authoring documents, it must be verified, and the AI tool cited. Not doing so can compromise the individual’s and organization's credibility.
Data used by AI tools may contain biases. Therefore, biases may be reflected in AI output. For example, if the training data reflects negative stereotypes or prejudiced views, the AI will produce responses that align with those biases. It is important to review AI output to correct bias that may be present.
Many public domain AI tools do not provide information about the data sources used to train the technology. As a result, AI tools may generate responses that are copyrighted without proper attribution. AI tools should never be used in place of peer-reviewed research. As with misinformation and bias, AI output must be reviewed for copyrighted material to avoid plagiarism and misattribution.
Through strategic integration, AI can enrich and supplement formal training and continuous learning but does not replace it. There are many sources available to stay informed and safely utilize AI technology in teaching, learning, and research.
Additional guidelines for AI use have been published by the College and online, including:
Promptly report concerns regarding entry of sensitive or restricted data into an AI tool, or a suspected IT security breach, to the SLCC Information Security Office: InfoSec@slcc.edu or the SLCC Help Desk at 801-957-555
--Special thanks to the University of Utah for providing a source document for these guidelines.