Artificial Intelligence: Understanding Generative AI

About This Guide

Miytôtâkewin. Tawaw. Bienvenue! Welcome to the USask Library Guide on Generative Artificial Intelligence.

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) is transforming our work, learning, and daily lives. To harness this technology effectively and responsibly, though, we must understand what it is, how it works, and how to use it ethically.

In an academic setting, we should consider:

How can GenAI enhance research, teaching, and learning?
What challenges does it present and what are its limitations?
How can we use it ethically and responsibly?

This guide explores the academic applications of GenAI tools, offering insights into how they can enhance research, teaching, and learning. It also examines the challenges and limitations of AI integration while emphasizing ethical and responsible use.

What Is Generative Artificial Intelligence?

Ask ChatGPT what AI is, and it provides a coherent response:

AI stands for Artificial Intelligence. It refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think and learn like humans and mimic their actions. AI involves the development of algorithms and systems that can perform tasks that would typically require human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and language translation.

ChatGPT is an example of a large language model (LLM) within the category of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI). Unlike predictive or analytic AI models, generative AI models produce or generate content by analyzing patterns and relationships in input data. In a process called machine learning , these models use complex algorithms to recognize patterns in vast amounts of training data (datasets), allowing them to create coherent human-sounding outputs. These outputs allow for a wide range of applications, from drafting articles and composing music to generating unique artwork and even producing realistic human images.

Despite these capabilities, Generative AI has limitations. It relies heavily on the quality and quantity of the data it is trained on, which may contain inherent biases and inaccuracies. Furthermore, the use of GenAI without human oversight raises ethical concerns, such as plagiarism, the creation of deepfake content, and the erosion of trust in digital media.

AI in a Snap - A 2-Minute Intro for Novices	GenAI in a Nutshell - A 20-Minute Guide for Beginners

The Importance of AI Literacy

Engaging responsibly with Generative AI requires both human oversight and AI literacy. This balanced approach—combining knowledge of AI capabilities and limitations with ethical supervision and regulation—ensures AI technologies are used responsibly and effectively. It allows society to harness the potential of generative AI, mitigate associated risks, and promote responsible and sustainable integration into our personal, academic, and professional lives.

AI literacy focuses on understanding and interacting with AI technologies and can typically be grouped into two main categories:

Basic AI Literacy	Critical AI Literacy
Basic AI Literacy emphasizes the practical skills and knowledge needed to interact with AI responsibly. It includes understanding fundamental AI concepts, recognizing its potential benefits and risks, and evaluating its societal impact. It also involves effectively prompting AI and assessing the AI outputs. These basic skills enable the confident, safe, ethical, and effective use of AI technologies.	Critical AI Literacy involves a deeper examination or critical analysis of the ethical, cultural, and societal implications of AI. This includes understanding issues related to bias, privacy, accountability, and the potential impacts of AI on social structures, equity, and individual rights. Critical AI literacy enables individuals to navigate complex AI-related challenges thoughtfully, participate in informed discussions, and contribute to policies and regulations that promote fairness, transparency, and social good.

Basic AI Literacy

Critical AI Literacy

Basic AI Literacy emphasizes the practical skills and knowledge needed to interact with AI responsibly. It includes understanding fundamental AI concepts, recognizing its potential benefits and risks, and evaluating its societal impact. It also involves effectively prompting AI and assessing the AI outputs. These basic skills enable the confident, safe, ethical, and effective use of AI technologies.

Critical AI Literacy involves a deeper examination or critical analysis of the ethical, cultural, and societal implications of AI. This includes understanding issues related to bias, privacy, accountability, and the potential impacts of AI on social structures, equity, and individual rights. Critical AI literacy enables individuals to navigate complex AI-related challenges thoughtfully, participate in informed discussions, and contribute to policies and regulations that promote fairness, transparency, and social good.

To learn more, read From Data Literacy to AI Literacy

Disclaimer: Portions of this guide were developed with the assistance of GenAI. Specifically, Pi.ai, ChatGPT and Perplexity were used to generate draft content, brainstorm ideas, and assist in organizing and formatting tables, decision trees, and other structured elements. All AI-generated content was thoroughly reviewed, edited, and verified by Library employees to ensure accuracy, relevance, and coherence and, where necessary, supplemented with additional research and expertise. The content provided is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for policy, advice, guidance or requirements around AI use from instructors or the institution. The guide is only intended to promote an understanding of generative AI and its ethical implications in educational settings. Users should exercise critical thinking and independent judgment while engaging with the content.