University Policy on AI: Don't Say Plagiarism?
My presentation will examine the policies and discourse on AI at US universities with well-regarded art history and design offerings. University policy and practice are often overlooked but can play a central role in the pedagogical impact of new technologies. The presentation is guided by these related research questions: Is academic dishonesty or misconduct in the university context being redefined, even if implicitly, by AI? Does plagiarism mean what it used to mean? Can the term plagiarism be used for an AI-generated text or image? What is academic integrity in the context of image generation? The current policy vacuum on generative AI in higher education means that questions of principle are silently replaced by FAQs, pragmatic approaches devised by teaching and learning staff, and tips and strategies published by colleagues. The policy vacuum will also mean increased litigation, especially in the field of design.
We can expect the policy vacuum to be addressed, over time, through the growing number of postsecondary centres, think tanks, and new degrees devoted to the impact of AI, especially on data security. An example of one of these initiatives is “Good Systems,” with its emphasis on ethical tools, at the University of Texas at Austin. Will the design community need to advocate to ensure that its unique issues are adequately represented?