Reminder: Check with your assignment guide and/or instructor for guidance on whether you can use generative AI in your assignment.
If you can use generative AI in your assignments, use the following information to cite in MLA and APA respectively.
Being able to critically evaluate the information you encounter is a crucial skill because not everything you read is accurate. Artificial intelligence can sometimes produce "hallucinations," which are nonsensical or incorrect results. For example, ChatGPT 3.5 is not connected to the web and might generate plausible-sounding but fictional sources with made-up titles, page numbers, and dates. While ChatGPT-4o can browse the web and offer more current information, it is still prone to errors. Other AI models that search the web, such as Perplexity AI and Microsoft Copilot, also risk presenting misinformation or disinformation. Always verify the sources and accuracy of information, regardless of the AI tool you use.
Bottom line: Always review and critically assess AI-generated content. Your best bet for finding sources is using library databases or Google Scholar.
When conducting research for college-level papers, you need to select a topic, develop a research plan and question, locate credible sources, evaluate information, and effectively use the gathered information. Artificial intelligence can assist in various stages of this process, such as brainstorming ideas, narrowing down topics, generating keywords for library databases, summarizing and outlining information, and adjusting writing levels and styles.
However, it's important to note that AI's role in research primarily involves refining and formatting information rather than conducting searches. For comprehensive source discovery, especially for scholarly materials, rely on library databases and Google Scholar rather than AI tools, as these resources offer more extensive coverage.
Bottom line: AI should complement traditional research methods, not replace them.