Commonsense Guidelines for Using AI Tools Responsibly

Commonsense Guidelines

If you haven't already read the article, Generative AI at SUNY New Paltz: What You Need to Know, you should start there. Then, follow these commonsense guidelines for using AI tools responsibly to help ensure safe, ethical, and effective use across our campus community. 

  1. Understand the Tool  
    • Learn what generative AI tools can and cannot do. 
    • Take time to understand how it is meant to be used. 

  2. Respect Privacy 

    • Follow all privacy laws, school, and workplace policies. 

    • Make sure you have permission to use any information and remove personal details. 

    • Do not share confidential, sensitive, or personal information. 

  3. Be Transparent 

    • Let people know when you are using AI. If AI helps create content or make decisions, inform reviewers or stakeholders by following the STL Citation Guide. 

  4. Watch for Bias and Fairness 

    • AI can reflect biases in its data. Be alert and work to reduce unfairness. 

  5. Check Accuracy  

    • Always verify AI-generated content. Compare it with trusted sources to avoid mistakes or misinformation. 

  6. Use AI Ethically 

    • Do not use AI for harmful purposes like creating fake news, deep fakes, or discriminatory content. 

  7. Keep Human Oversight 

    • AI should support - not replace - human judgment. Important decisions need human review. 

  8. Keep Learning 

    • Stay informed about new AI developments and best practices. Continuous learning helps you use AI responsibly. 

Further Reading

 

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