A matter of ethics

What the Regulations Say

At Avignon Université, the use of generative AI tools is governed by the General Academic Regulations (RGE in French), specifically in section 8.4 on plagiarism:
“[…] the methodology of an academic work, whatever its nature, requires that any borrowed material is clearly identified, notably through the use of quotation marks, and that the name of the author and the source of the extract are mentioned. This obligation also applies to content generated by Artificial Intelligence tools such as ChatGPT, whose use must be explicitly acknowledged.” (translated from the French version)

It’s important to note that professors have the right to impose additional restrictions on the assessment process. Beyond the concerns about skill development we’ve discussed, the use of generative AI tools must adhere strictly to the principles of academic integrity, which guide the entire university community, including both professors and students.

Plagiarism, often defined as the unauthorized use of someone else’s work, is considered a serious violation of academic integrity, and is met with severe penalties in higher education. When it comes to AI-generated content, failing to disclose its use is more an act of intellectual deception than outright theft. However, both forms of dishonesty breach the values of academic integrity.

Is It Cheating or Not?

Whether the use of generative AI constitutes cheating depends largely on the nature of the assessment and what you're being evaluated on. Professors determine what is permissible, and their guidelines ultimately define what constitutes legitimate or illegitimate behavior.

For instance, if an exam focuses on creativity and asks you to generate innovative ideas, using AI to create those ideas would be considered cheating. However, using the tool to refine or reformulate your own ideas might be acceptable. Similarly, if you're assessed on your ability to write in an older literary style, using AI to generate such text would be cheating. But using AI to help structure your essay might not be.

In any case, professors are the ones who set the rules for assessments and the tools that may be used. If you're ever uncertain, it’s always best to ask for clarification.

Hands-On Practice

Imagine an alternate reality where you’re taking a sociology course. Your professor has asked you to write a paper on the societal impacts of generative AI. Your paper must cover both the positive and negative impacts, as well as your personal opinion on the subject. The professor has authorized the use of AI to help create your outline but has prohibited its use for writing the content.

Once you’ve submitted your outline, you can proceed to the next part of this course.