Using AI tools in your writing

One of the most challenging but also exciting developments we currently face is the exponential growth of AI capability. From producing code to summarising vast quantities of information, AI has the potential to revolutionise the labour market. And, of course, the world of study too.

While AI can be a powerful resource for students who know how to use it, there are crucial dangers to look out for. From obvious plagiarism through to citing made-up sources, the use of AI presents potential academic and ethical pitfalls. Let’s look at how you can strike the right balance and optimise your writing and research with AI:

1.   Helping to formulate and organise ideas

AI can be very helpful in the planning stage of a project. That may include brainstorming potential essay titles (if your lecturer has not assigned you one), as well as providing you with thematic suggestions as to how you might lay out your essay. These tips, however, are unlikely to be perfect and you will want to take these as an initial guide, rather than as a definitive structure. The best essays will always show individual creativity and remain dynamic, something which AI tools (which aim to provide regular, predictable results) cannot demonstrate.

2.   Finding extra reading

While it is best to use your recommended course reading to come up with a “core” reading list, AI can be insightful when it comes to finding literature which can help you shore up a more specialist sub-argument you might want to make. However, beware – AI currently is prone to committing “hallucinations” (coming up with convincing, but completely made-up, sources) so make sure to cross-reference closely what an AI tool recommends to see if it exists and if the argument the article makes actually corresponds to what the chatbot claims it says.

3.   Assisting Non-Native Speakers

When it comes to levelling the academic playfield between native and non-native English writers, AI could be a gamechanger. AI can be particularly helpful if you do not use it solely as a translation tool but also attempt to write a draft in English and then use AI to help you find the common mistakes or awkward phrasing which you may be using. AI cannot only help you correct your phrasing, but you can learn why a specific construction does not work and remember not to use it in your future work.

These just a few of the ways in which AI can be used as a tool which enhances your academic writing and research skills, while maintaining research integrity and avoiding some of the common pitfalls which can come with indiscriminate AI use.