ENGL 2A: Critical Thinking and Writing (Stone)

What is Media Literacy for AI Tools?

Media literacy is the ability to find, analyze, evaluate, and use information in different formats, like articles, social media, or videos. When it comes to AI tools (like ChatGPT), media literacy means understanding how AI works, using it responsibly, and being able to judge the information it gives you.

As a first-year student, it’s important to understand that AI tools can help with brainstorming, research, and writing, but you need to use them correctly to avoid mistakes like plagiarism or spreading false information.

1. How Do AI Tools Work?

AI tools, such as ChatGPT, are trained on large amounts of data to predict what words come next in a sentence. They analyze patterns in language but don’t actually “understand” the meaning of what they generate. For example, ChatGPT might help you brainstorm ideas for a paper, but it doesn’t know the topic like you do. It simply predicts responses based on the data it has learned. Sometimes, AI can provide incorrect or biased information, so it's important to be careful when using it.

2. Evaluating AI-Generated Content

Just because something comes from an AI doesn’t mean it’s accurate. It’s important to evaluate what AI tools produce:

• Example of Fact-Checking:
  Imagine you ask an AI tool, “Who won the last World Series?” The AI might give you the name of the most recent winner from its data. But if the AI tool was last trained in 2021, it could give you outdated information, even though it sounds convincing. Therefore, you should verify by checking an up-to-date source like a sports website or news outlet.

• Example of Bias:
  Let’s say you ask an AI tool to describe a famous historical figure. If the AI was trained on biased or unbalanced sources, its description could reflect stereotypes or omit important details. For instance, a description of a woman leader might not emphasize her achievements as much as it does for male counterparts. It’s crucial to recognize this and cross-check information to ensure fairness and accuracy.

3. Ethical Use of AI

Using AI tools ethically means being aware of the responsibilities that come with them:

• Avoiding Plagiarism: AI tools can help generate ideas, but you should not use AI to write a paper. If you do, that’s plagiarism—taking credit for work that isn't yours.
• Misinformation: AI tools can sometimes create misleading or false content. For example, ChatGPT might generate a convincing-sounding response that isn't true. Always verify important information before using it in your work.

4. How to Cite AI Tools Properly

It’s essential to cite AI tools correctly to show where your information comes from. This helps maintain academic integrity and ensures you don’t plagiarize by taking credit for AI-generated content. Here's how to cite an AI tool in MLA format:

MLA Citation for AI Tools:

Works Cited:
OpenAI. ChatGPT, version 4, 06 Jan. 2025, https://chat.openai.com/.

In-Text Citation:

• Example of Proper Citation:
  If you use an AI tool to help brainstorm ideas for your paper, you would need to cite the AI in your Works Cited page and include an in-text citation to show where that information came from.

5. Using AI the Right Way

AI tools are great for generating ideas, organizing your thoughts, and getting inspiration, but they should never be used to do your entire paper or project. Think of AI as a helper—it can support you, but it cannot replace your own work and creativity.

• Example of Ethical Use:
  Let’s say you’re writing a paper on Land development and sacred Indigenous sites. You can use AI to help generate ideas or develop keywords to help with your search, but you need to add your own analysis and citations to make the final paper your own. The AI can help you get started, but you must take responsibility for the content and make sure it’s accurate and original.

Citation: OpenAI. ChatGPT, version 4, 06 Jan. 2025, https://chat.openai.com/