Opportunities and risks
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) offers remarkable opportunities as assistive technology. Seeing AI, ChatGPT, Otter.ai and RoboBraille are a few examples of generative AI tools; generative AI can also be found PC and Apple operating systems, Google, Alexa, Siri, Microsoft Office (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Zoom, Grammarly and many other commonly-used tools.
Using generative AI also has risks, including plagiarism, misinformation, reinforcing bias, data mining for the benefit and profits of corporations, privacy, colonialism, and environmental impacts. For more information, visit Risks to Using ChatGPT, Intellectual Property Concerns and Environmental Concerns in the RRU Writing Centre’s ChatGPT guide.
Be an informed user of AI tools
If you're a Royal Roads student and you'd like to use generative AI tools as assistive technology:
- Visit Generative AI at Royal Roads University to learn more about the university’s statement of principle, including the university’s expectations of students.
- Make sure you’re familiar with the University Policy on Academic Integrity and Misconduct-Students.
- Always check with your instructor before using generative AI tools to make sure your use is permissible. Expectations may differ between instructors, assignments, and courses, so if you're unsure, ask questions.
- Think critically about any AI-generated results, and don’t rely on AI as your only source for information.
- Be careful about what information you’re sharing with AI tools, keeping in mind that all information you share may be used to train the AI tool e.g., don’t share private, personal, or sensitive information and make sure your use is respectful of copyright/ownership of scholarship.
- Contact Accessibility Services if you have questions about using generative AI as assistive technology.