Artificial Intelligence

This webpage is designed to give you an overview of our AI guidance as well as consider how it can be used across the University’s many functions.

The University’s recommended AI tool is Microsoft Copilot. This is built into our Microsoft Licence.

If you have any generic questions around AI use, contact Information Services (is@aber.ac.uk). For students, if you have queries around acceptable AI use for your assignments, contact your tutor or module co-ordinator.

Statements and Safety

There are many 3rd party AI tools out there. As with all 3rd party software, you should ensure that you are using it safely, responsibly, and ethically.

The University’s recommended AI tool is Microsoft Copilot. This is built into our Microsoft Licence.

If you are using 3rd party software, ensure that you are not entering any personal information relating to yourself or others. Make sure you look at the product’s Privacy Policy to ensure that you know what personal data the software is collecting about you and how and where your data is being stored.

Please see our Statement on the use of Generative AI for further information

For more detailed guidance on safety, see the General Guidance on the safe use of AI.

If you are concerned that you have committed a data breach, contact infogovernance@aber.ac.uk as soon as possible and provide the information requested in the How do I report a breach guidance.

Using AI for your Studies

There are many advantages to using AI as part of your studies, as long as it is used ethically and safely.

It can help you create structure, assist with formatting, review the tone of your writing, interpretation of data, and clarifying meaning.

Your subject librarians have been working on guidance for its use.

This includes:

The University has updated its regulation on Unacceptable Academic Practice, noting that plagiarism includes presenting work generated by AI as if it were your own.  

To assist with transparency, you might be asked to engage with a Tool-use statement that outlines which AI tools you have used.

You should seek clarification from your academic tutors if you are unsure as to whether it is acceptable to use AI in your studies or assignments.

Using AI for your Teaching

We recognise and support the integration of Generative AI into learning and teaching activities.

To ensure that staff and students engage with Generative AI in ethical and secure ways, we recommend that the following tools are used:

  1. Microsoft Copilot
  2. Blackboard AI Design Assistant
  3. Vevox AI question designer

We run regular training sessions: E-learning Essentials: Using Microsoft Copilot for Learning and Teaching Activities and E-learning Enhanced: Using the Blackboard AI Design Assistant for colleagues. You can book your place and see our other training sessions online.

Our training sessions are designed to look at learning and teaching through the lens of productivity, foregrounding Generative AI as taking an assistive role in the creation of content.

To ensure assessment validity, the University’s Unacceptable Academic Practice guidelines have been amended to include presenting work generated by AI as if it were your own as plagiarism.

A standard content item is included in the Assessment and Feedback area of Blackboard courses which links to Unacceptable Academic Practice and Guidance for students on using Generative AI.

Colleagues should explain to students the acceptable levels of Generative AI use in their assessments. You are welcome to make use of standardised statements which are available in the Blackboard Learning Object Repository.

We have a series of case studies to highlight to colleagues how Generative AI can be incorporated into teaching activities.

If you have any questions about integrating Generative AI into your teaching, you are welcome to contact us on elearning@aber.ac.uk.

Using AI for your Research

Use of AI in research can have significant ethical implications.  Guidance in this area is still being developed, but there may be local departmental, or discipline-specific guidance available.  Overarching best practice can be found in General Guidance on the safe use of AI.

If your research falls within the scope of the Research Ethics Panel, they may review any use of AI within your research processes, whether that be as part of a preparatory exercise, or as a core feature of the research.  Details relating to the work of the Research Ethics Panel and associated processes can be found at https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/rbi/support-services/ethics/  They will also be able to provide advice prior to the commencement of any research or ethical review.

A useful overview of the factors that need consideration when using AI in Research can be accessed here: https://ukrio.org/ukrio-resources/ai-in-research/

Using AI for your Administration

AI can also be used for administrative activities, such as summarising long documents, creating a structure for reports, and reorganising information you have already written.

The University’s recommended AI tool is Copilot, which is part of our Microsoft Licence.

See the Using Copilot for productivity at Aberystwyth University guide.

Remember to avoid uploading personal information (about identifiable individuals) or other confidential information to Copilot.