AI and the Library: Effective and ethical use of AI tools

What is prompt building?

Prompt building is the process of making clear instructions (called prompts) that help generative AI tools create specific responses. A prompt can be a question, command, or statement that gives the AI the context and details it needs to produce relevant and accurate answers.

Why is it important?

The ability to create effective prompts for AI tools is important because it can:

• Improve accuracy: Well-constructed prompts lead to more precise and relevant AI responses.
• Save time: Effective prompts reduce the time spent revising AI inputs. This makes communication with your AI tool quicker and easier, and subsequently helps you to quickly find the information you need.
• Enhance creativity: Good prompts can generate creative ideas and solutions by encouraging AI to look at tasks from different perspectives.
• Facilitate learning: Building prompts helps users develop critical thinking and research skills, and in turn enhances their understanding of the subject matter.

All of these are skills that can improve your academic performance, and that are sought after by many employers.

What is an effective prompt?

A good AI prompt is concise, well-structured and specific. You could think of it like a formula where each variable contributes to ensuring that the prompt is clear, specific, and tailored to the desired outcome from the start, for example:

Task + Topic + Structure + Style + Level

Task: Explain

Topic: the impact of climate change on coastal cities

Structure: in a detailed report

Style: formal

Level of Detail: in-depth analysis

Prompt: "Explain the impact of climate change on  coastal cities in a detailed report. Use a formal   tone and provide an in-depth analysis."

• Browse through the tabs below to learn more about each element of this prompt formula.

• Visit your AI Literacy tutorial on Blackboard

AI tools can produce 'hallucinations' - false, misleading  or inaccurate information that is presented as fact. It is an important information literacy skill to evaluate and fact-check the information you receive from any AI tool.

• Check our Evaluating Sources and Fact Checking LibGuide for things to look out for and ways to help you evaluate the accuracy of AI outputs. 

AI tools present challenges for academic integrity, some of which include:

• Increased cheating: AI tools can make it easier for students to cheat on assignments and exams.
• Plagiarism risks: Students may use AI to generate content that is not their own, leading to plagiarism issues.
• Misleading information: AI can produce inaccurate or biased information, affecting the quality of research.
• Loss of skills: Over-reliance on AI tools may hinder students' development of critical thinking and writing skills.
• Assessment challenges: Traditional methods of evaluating student work may struggle to detect AI-generated content.
• Policy confusion: Departments might struggle to create and enforce rules about using AI and maintaining academic integrity.

As a general rule, AI tools should only be used to supplement your own information skills, not to replace them. By using AI in a way which might undermine your own academic skills, you will not be achieving your learning outcomes.

Always check the latest guidance on the use of AI provided by your Department. If you are allowed to use AI tools for your assessed work, you must be transparent and acknowledge what you have used by completing your Department's Tool Use Statement and/or referencing the tool accordingly. If in doubt, speak to your tutor.

Important: If you use an AI tool in your assessed work in ways that are not specifically permitted, you could be committing Unacceptable Academic Practice (UAP).

Library Services has a help and support webpage for working with Artificial Intelligence at Aberystwyth University: https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/is/help/ai/

This page brings together policies and safety advice as well as guidance for using AI in your studies, teaching, research, and administration.