University-wide stance on generative AI

The University of Kent recognises the importance of AI literacy for students and staff. Therefore, the University is committed to educating individuals on the ethical and responsible use of generative AI while maintaining academic rigour and integrity.

As these technologies and our approach to them continue to evolve, this guidance may be subject to change.

Ethical use of generative AI

At Kent, we strongly believe that maintaining academic integrity and ethical use of generative AI can be accomplished by fostering an environment where students feel comfortable and confident in asking questions about specific cases of AI use, and can openly discuss the associated challenges without fear of being penalised.

As such, we encourage students to speak to their module convenors about how generative AI could be used in their modules. This will help ensure that the use of AI is aligned with the learning outcomes of the module and that students have a clear understanding of how it can be used to enhance their learning experience.  

Data privacy

Generative AI tools are trained on vast amounts of data. This includes the information you enter when using the tools.  Sharing personal or sensitive data with any generative AI platform has the potential for it to become publicly available. 

It is important that we all take responsibility for using these technologies with care, diligence, and respect for individual privacy. By prioritising these values, we can take advantage of the benefits of generative AI while also maintaining our dedication to data protection and ethical research practices.

Accuracy

It's important to understand that Artificial Intelligence differs from human intelligence. AI tools don't comprehend the content they generate, nor can they verify its accuracy. These tools are trained on data and rely on pattern recognition to predict what strings of words and sentences should be generated next. 

It's crucial to keep in mind that while the outputs of AI can seem to be well-written and credible, they can also be inaccurate.

Academic integrity

The University of Kent is committed to safeguarding the quality and standards of academic degrees, ensuring the value of academic awards earned by students at all levels of study.  

Academic Integrity is a set of values and practices that expect us to act with honesty, trust, fairness, respect and responsibility.  

Kent's Academic Integrity pages provide guidance for both students and staff seeking information on Academic Integrity policy and procedures.   

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