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Academic integrity
5.
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence
From Semester 1 2025, you can use AI tools like Microsoft Copilot Chat for your assignments, unless your unit coordinator has prohibited the class from using it. For exams and tests, you will not be allowed to use AI unless your unit coordinator has expressly permitted it. Different units and assessments will have different rules.
Check the unit outline and check the assessment instructions. From 7 February 2025, unit outlines will now display a small icon to indicate whether AI is allowed. If you are ever unsure, ask your unit coordinator, because unauthorised use of AI is a breach of academic integrity.
Learning to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools productively and responsibly is an important part of developing digital literacy. We want to ensure that you have the skills and knowledge to adapt and thrive in a changing world.
At the same time, it's important to understand when use of AI is unethical, inappropriate, or breaches the University’s rules about academic integrity. Submitting assessments that aren't your original work – including work produced by AI – may constitute a breach of academic integrity.
Whether you can use AI tools like Microsoft Copilot Chat for assessments will depend on the rules set by your Unit Coordinator. Different units and assessments may have different rules. By default from Semester 1, 2025, you are allowed to use generative AI for your assignments, unless your unit coordinator has prohibited the class from using it. For exams and tests, you are not allowed to use AI unless your unit coordinator has expressly permitted it.
We want to make sure you develop the knowledge and skills to lead now and into the future. An important part of this is making sure that you learn through assessments and other activities, even if you use generative AI.
From 7 February 2025, unit outlines will display an icon to indicate whether AI is allowed for assessments. Make sure you look for the icon and check the assessment instructions. If you’re still unsure, ask your unit coordinator. Using AI when not allowed could amount to a breach of academic integrity for which you could be investigated. If AI use is permitted, always reference and acknowledge your use of it to avoid academic penalties.
For general learning purposes, as opposed to assessments, you are permitted to use generative AI tools, as long as you follow all University policies including the Academic Integrity Policy 2022 (pdf, 376KB), Acceptable Use of ICT Resources Policy 2019 (pdf, 258KB) and the Student Charter 2020 (pdf, 221KB).
The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of ideas for how to use AI to improve your learning.
What is generative artificial intelligence?
At the University, we define generative AI as a rapidly evolving class of computer algorithms capable of creating digital content – including text, images, video, music and computer code.
These algorithms work by deriving patterns from large sets of training data that become encoded into predictive mathematical models, a process commonly referred to as ‘learning’. These models do not keep a copy of the data they were trained on, but rather, generate novel content entirely from the patterns they encode. People can then use AI interfaces like ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini, Claude or MidJourney to input ‘prompts’ – typically, instructions in plain language – to make generative AI models produce outputs.
We distinguish ‘automated writing tools’ from generative AI. Automated writing tools enhance or modify text by translating, paraphrasing, refining writing style, or clarifying expression. By contrast, generative AI technologies are those capable of creating new material. (Automated writing tools do not include word processors or those that solely correct spelling and grammar.)
There are many AI-powered applications and tools that can be beneficial to your studies, but there are also situations in which using AI tools may not be appropriate. Using AI responsibly involves ensuring these tools are used ethically, understanding their limitations, and maintaining a balance between technology and traditional approaches to learning. It’s important for students to develop critical thinking, communication, and other skills (including written communication) and conduct independent research, rather than becoming overly reliant on AI tools.
Digital tools and generative AI in assessments
You can use automated writing tools and generative AI tools for your assignments, unless your unit coordinator has prohibited the class from using it. For exams and tests, you will not be allowed to use AI unless your unit coordinator has expressly permitted it.
- Rules around use may differ depending on the unit, discipline, and other factors.
- Unit coordinators will inform you about what constitutes appropriate use.
- Look for the AI icon on your unit outline and refer to the assessment instructions. If you’re ever unsure about whether generative AI can be used, ask the unit coordinator. Using generative AI when it is not permitted will constitute a breach of academic integrity
- You must ensure you follow all policies such as the:
Acknowledging and referencing the use of AI
If you are permitted to use automated writing tools or generative AI by your unit coordinator, you will need to include a statement in your submitted work explaining:
- that you have used AI tools in completing the work
- what automated writing or generative AI tools you have used
- how you have used them.
In assessable work, the unapproved use of automated writing tools or generative AI, or failing to acknowledge them, is currently considered to be a breach of academic integrity, and penalties may apply.
If you’re unsure about whether you can use AI, or how you can use them, it’s important that you speak with your unit coordinator.
For more in-depth information about generative AI use, you should check the AI in Education Canvas site. It includes additional guidance on how to acknowledge and reference the use of generative AI.
Other considerations for AI
- You are welcome to use generative AI as a general learning tool. For example, you can use it to help explain complex topics or plan out your study.
- We recommend against the use of AI for translation as it can reduce your learning ability for assessment tasks and may produce inadequate answers.
- You should not rely on the accuracy of generative AI outputs - generative AI models do not know anything. Rather, they predict answers based on patterns from the internet’s existing information. Generative AI outputs may include entirely false information (also known as ‘AI hallucinations’) so you should always be careful when using the outputs.
- You are responsible for the work that you submit. Alongside the accuracy of the outputs, these also reflect the biases of the material on which the models are trained. Always make sure that your work reflects your own values.
- Don’t let your use of generative AI prevent you from developing crucial writing and communication skills. Learning to communicate effectively in your own words, whether in written or spoken communication, is an indispensable skill in any profession. Use generative AI to improve your communication skills rather than letting it do the writing or talking for you.
Detecting generative AI use
Turnitin has a tool for detecting use of artificial intelligence in student work. If an academic suspects that part or all of your assessment has been generated using AI technology and its use was not permitted, the Turnitin AI detection tool may be used to evaluate the situation. It’s important to note that the AI detector score would not be the only evidence relied upon for an academic integrity case, but will be considered alongside other relevant evidence.
How to avoid academic integrity breaches when using AI
- Ensure you follow the guidelines given for the unit and assessment.
- If AI use is permitted, keep track throughout your assignment process of all the ways you have used generative AI, and keep copies of generative AI outputs as evidence of your research and writing process.
- Ensure that you take ownership for your final work.
- Ensure that you have acknowledged any use of software or tools, and that you reference all sources.
Accessing AI through University systems
The University provides free access to Copilot for Web for all students. Make sure that you log in with your UniKey using Okta so that you are using Copilot in protected mode, which introduces necessary guardrails within the system.
You shouldn't enter confidential, personal, proprietary or otherwise sensitive information into any generative AI platform. Examples of the information you should avoid entering include:
- a person’s name, birth date, address, identifying numbers or passwords
- other personal or health information
- copyright materials, such as the Library’s eResources and the University’s proprietary teaching resources.
Seeking further advice about generative AI
If you have further questions about how to use AI responsibly and productively, visit the Canvas site for AI in Education or contact the Office of Educational Integrity by emailing educational.integrity@sydney.edu.au.
Last updated: 31 January 2025
