Rhetoric of Robots and AI

AI Policy Statement

The advent of widely available generative AI, including Large Language Models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini, and image generators, such as DALL-E or Midjourney, has introduced some new wrinkles to thinking about “permitted collaboration” and “plagiarism.” Since AI is a focus for us, we’ll definitely be interested in talking about these models: what they do, how they might impact both learning and practices of communication and creativity. But practically speaking, we also need a policy for whether or not (or to what extent) you can use such tools in this class. Since this is a writing class, and the whole goal here is for you to develop your skill as a writer, you are not permitted to use language generated by an (LLM) in any of the work you submit for this class. However, you are permitted to use LLMs in some limited ways in the process of exploring your topic. Here is a helpful breakdown of permitted and unpermitted uses based largely on a chart devised by my colleagues in PWR Lisa Swan and Valerie Kinsey.

Permitted with Proper Citations

• Locating sources with relevant conversations or counterarguments (this does not extend to relying on LLMs’ accounts of what those sources say)
• Identifying key concepts to aid you in your research*
• Using grammar tools (like Grammarly or Microsoft Word)**

Not Permitted (Counter to the Learning Goals of This Class)

• Brainstorming research topics, approaches to organization and arrangement, or research questions. All of these tasks involve intellectual skills you are meant to develop in this class, and using an LLM to help you with them impoverishes that development
• Acquiring background information. While such information may be accurate, you have no means to assess it apart from independently verifying every fact you get from an LLM. It seems better to start with trusted sources that are transparent about where their facts come from.

Not Permitted (Unethical)

• Using predictive text when drafting assignments
• Writing, revising, or editing any portion of your essays and writing responses, including introductions, body paragraphs, conclusions, or thesis statements
• Expanding writing to meet a word count or elaborating on ideas, evidence, or quotes
• Writing summaries of readings
• Getting feedback on your writing, including understanding the tone, meeting genre conventions, and following the rubric
• Entering others’ intellectual property into ChatAI including essay prompts for this class, our rubrics, or your peers’ work and sample work written by other/former students

Citation Guidelines

Here are the MLA and APA guidelines for citing use of generative AI. 

Notes of Caution

*Given the propensity of AI tools to fabricate information, all research information must be independently verified through lateral reading. 

**Grammar tools can help with typos, concision, and clarity, but they also standardize language and flatten style and voice. This means you don’t want to automatically approve all changes. Tools that substantially change your language, especially without approval, or fully rewrite sentences are not permitted.