AI-U: A Citadel Student Guide to Artificial Intelligence

About the Student Guide to Artificial Intelligence (AI-U 2025)

The Student Guide to Artificial Intelligence (AI-U 2025) is the second publication of the Student Guide to AI series produced by Elon University and the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U).

Guide to Responsible AI Use

AI is transforming our world, often in ways we may not fully realize. This guide empowers Citadel students to navigate the age of AI – academically, professionally and ethically. Understanding AI isn’t just useful; it’s essential. Learn to use AI responsibly, critically assess its capabilities and join the conversation about its future.

Working with Artificial Intelligence

Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools use machine learning technologies to analyze prompts, data and images and generate output, including written text, voices, pictures, videos and more. These tools can mimic humans’ ability to learn, reason, solve problems and make decisions.

Never forget: AI is not human. Despite brilliant algorithms that can simulate a human personality, AI is not your companion and does not have emotions or feelings. Use these technology tools to augment your human capabilities, not replace them.

Where and how can I use AI?
AI powers the platforms we use every day, such as: Web search engines, Netflix, Amazon, Maps, YouTube, Spotify, Siri, Alexa, Instagram, TikTok, Uber and much more

Free vs. paid AI tools
Your school may have licenses to provide AI accounts for students. You can also use free versions provided by many major platforms. If you need more powerful or specialized tools, test different models before you subscribe.

Look for AI in your apps
Many computer programs now have embedded AI capabilities. Microsoft includes Copilot in programs like Word, Excel and Powerpoint. Google Docs include embedded Gemini tools. Adobe and Zoom include AI- powered features.

Many technology firms are now creating AI agents that can take in information, generate plans and complete tasks, such as drafting reports, scheduling meetings or handling more complex work.

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What Does AI Mean for Your Education?

AI tools are evolving rapidly, allowing students to access vast sources of knowledge and explore different ideas and ways of thinking.

• University teaching models are changing (Learn more: AI is changing higher education)
• Most employers will expect you to graduate with skills and experience in using AI
• Gaining continuous learning skills (learning how to learn) now will serve you well throughout your life as AI evolves
• The AI future will include exciting opportunities along with new realities related to ethics and our interactions with technology (Learn more: The Crystal Ball)

Learn to use AI to:

• Research, organize and summarize information
• Enhance your writing and communication skills
• Analyze complex data, uncover patterns and solve problems
• Create and express innovative ideas
• Improve your study skills

Types of AI Tools

• Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot, Perplexity, MetaAI, Deepseek, Mistral, Grok
• Specialized AI tools for research, writing and coding such as NotebookLM, Grammarly, Elicit, GitHub Copilot, Consensus
• Creative AI tools that generate images, videos and music, such as DALL-E, Midjourney, Adobe Firefly, Stability.ai, Canva, Runway ML, Sora, Suno
• Analytical AI tools specialized in business intelligence, math, statistics and data visualization, such as Tableau, Wolfram Alpha, PowerBI, DataRobot, RapidMiner and Python tools
• Embedded AI capabilities in software programs, such as Adobe applications, Google Docs, Zoom, Microsoft 365
• Open-source and customized tools available on communities like Github, Hugging Face, Nvidia and chatbot aggregators like Poe

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Develop Your AI Skills

Key Elements of an Effective AI Prompt

Your goal	“I am presenting to a group of college students about ethical issues related to artificial intelligence. I need help identifying and organizing ideas.”
Task instructions and form of output	“Identify the most important ethical issues related to AI. Create a list of 8-10 key points to make, with several bullets for each point explaining its importance. Cross-reference your recommendations with classical principles of ethics and draw connections between those principles and emerging AI technologies. Suggest visuals for the presentation.”
Constraints, warning and verification requirements	“Use the points in my attached paper. Provide links to all sources. Draw material from respected academic publications only.”
Background and context (include as much as you can)	“For context: I have been studying AI ethics and have written the attached paper. I now need to explain these issues in a 15-minute oral presentation. The students have only general knowledge about AI and most have not studied ethical matters.”
Optional: The role the AI should play	“In providing your list, consider yourself to be the presenter, who is a college-aged student very close in age to the audience.”
Optional: Examples for the AI to follow	“I have created a start on the presentation and have attached that to this prompt. Please provide a critique of my ideas so far.”

Using AI for Research, Information Gathering and Summarization

Suggestions

Use AI tools to:

• Orient you to a topic, provide background and explain complex concepts
• Brainstorm multiple approaches to consider in studying a subject
• Analyze large datasets and draw conclusions
• Create simulations, prototypes and scenarios
• Search online sources and identify credible resources
• Critique your approach to a topic

Cautions

• Verify everything: AI output can sound confident, but these tools can make up (“hallucinate”) or misrepresent information, draw false conclusions, make major mistakes and generate fake sources
• AI doesn’t “understand” the way humans do; these models lack real-world experience and context, so they don’t easily handle irony, humor and complex metaphors
• Don’t just read AI-generated summaries; take time to read original articles and understand detailed points and context
• Be aware that many of today’s AI tools are trained on information up to a certain date and may not have access to recent events or new discoveries
• Challenge AI responses and require the AI to justify its output by citing sources and data
• Beware of biased AI output
• Guard against overreliance on AI; challenge yourself to learn and exercise your mental muscles

Using AI for Writing

Suggestions

• Whether you are doing personal, professional or academic writing, follow the appropriate rules for using AI
• Develop prompts and use AI at discrete stages of the writing process:
  • Brainstorming: Use AI to explore ideas, develop arguments and propose new approaches
  • Drafting: Use AI to suggest many ways you might organize your ideas for different audiences and purposes for writing
  • Revising: Use AI to review sentences or paragraphs if you’re struggling to convey your ideas, or to review your first draft and make suggestions for tone, clarity and vocabulary
  • Editing: Use AI to check spelling, punctuation and grammar, and ensure your writing follows the required citation style
• Use multiple AI platforms, compare outputs and combine the best ideas

Cautions

• Always remain the primary author; don’t ask the AI to produce a complete first draft that you submit as your own work
• Remember that writing is a form of critical thinking, an essential part of learning that you must engage in yourself; use AI to augment, not replace, your own thinking and writing
• Keep track of how you use AI and cite its use following guidelines specified for your writing project
• Always critically evaluate AI outputs and make sure the language sounds natural, engaging and authentic
• Don’t become overreliant on AI, using it as a writing crutch; work to develop your own writing voice, style and personality

Using AI for Creative Work

Suggestions

• Embrace AI as a creative tool, not a replacement for your own artistic input
• Explore specialized AI tools that generate images, videos and sound, using these tools to spark your own ideas
• Use AI to explore different creative styles and remix content; experimenting may help you think outside the box and gain different perspectives
• Use many different AI systems – compare outputs, combine ideas and blend concepts with your own creative vision

Cautions

• Use AI output only as a catalyst for your own creative ideas
• Clearly disclose the use of AI-generated content
• Be on guard for stereotypes, biases or blandness in AI-generated materials
• AI responses may be based on copyrighted materials, so compare the output to existing works and don’t use company logos, characters or styles
• Keep track of the AI tools used, your prompts and any modifications you made to the outputs
• Never use AI to create deepfakes or offensive content that could harm, mislead or exploit others

Using AI for Data and Numerical Analysis

Suggestions

• Use AI tools to:
  • Evaluate dataset quality
  • Perform repetitive numerical tasks, look for hidden patterns in datasets and help you understand your data
  • Create predictive models and forecasts
• Use AI tools like Tableau or PowerBI to create data visualizations
• Use AI-powered specialty tools like WolframAlpha or Python libraries to solve complex math problems
• Use GitHub Copilot to help with coding and debugging

Cautions

• Current generative AI platforms are not good mathematical tools and may return errors and struggle with simple calculations, solving word problems or completing multi-step math equations
• Don’t inherently trust the data output of AI tools; use AI to generate code only where the correctness of the solution can be
  independently verified with other specialized tools
• Never share a dataset with an AI tool in a way that would violate the rights or privacy of others
• Data owned by a company or organization, including personal and business information, should never be shared with an AI tool without permission

Using AI for Study and Learning Assistance

Suggestions

• Use AI tools to:
  • Challenge you with questions and tests adapted to your knowledge, skills, learning preferences and pace
  • Create visual diagrams and help organize your class notes
  • Help with note-taking, language translation, captioning, speech-to-text and other accessibility functions
• Try AI tutors like Khanmigo, Quizlet and others built to help you learn, not just give you all the answers
• Use Notebook.lm’s study guide or similar tools to quiz you on texts and materials you provide
• Use AI tools in Zoom to take meeting notes and support group study sessions

Cautions

• Always remain an active, engaged learner who uses AI as a study resource in a quest for deeper understanding
• Remember to work with groups and friends to study together – you will learn in ways that AI systems cannot simulate
• Always ask permission from everyone in a meeting or discussion before video or audio recording
• Always take good notes in class and while you’re studying – AI systems are not a substitute for processing ideas with your own mind and making human judgments about information
• Develop learning and critical thinking skills independent of AI tools; you will use these capabilities at work and throughout life

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Academic Integrity in the Age of AI

“Cheating” and AI

AI has complicated the concept of academic integrity. Some rationalize that “everybody uses AI,” or “AI is just like any other technology tool.” Be faithful to this principle: the work you turn in must be authentically yours. Copying AI-produced content verbatim and representing it as your own without attribution is cheating.

Cheating with AI deprives you of the opportunity to develop your own skills and intellectual confidence. Your personal development requires you to do the hard work of learning.

The bright “red line”

If your professor says no use of AI in their class, or on individual assignments, follow the rules. Remember that the rules may vary on certain assignments. In some cases, you may even be required to use AI. To avoid crossing the cheating “red line,” ask for specific instructions on the use of AI on each assignment.

When the “red line” can be a bit fuzzy

Some assignments will permit or even require the use of AI. In these cases, keep these basic principles in mind:

• When AI is allowed, use it to get oriented to a topic and gather information. Then, after doing your own research and producing a rough draft on your own, share it with the AI systems and ask for feedback and ideas about what you are missing or what could be revised. This will allow you to remain the main author of the project, with AI providing feedback.
• No matter how you use AI, the key is to be honest and transparent, giving clear attribution to the ways AI contributed to the work.

All About Attribution

Academic honesty requires that you cite (attribute) the original source of all materials that are not your own. This transparency allows others to understand where information comes from and evaluate its credibility. Plagiarism, a failure to properly attribute sources, is a serious breach of academic integrity.

Follow instructions from your professors on how to cite the use of AI in an assignment. The rules may vary from class to class. The standards for AI attribution continue to evolve as new AI tools emerge and higher education adapts.

Basic Elements of AI Attribution

When you explain how AI was used in your work, specify these four elements:

• Name the specific AI tools used
• Explain the purpose of the use (brainstorming, data analysis, image generation, copyediting, etc.)
• Assess the extent of the AI influence (minimal, moderate or extensive)
• Declare the role of human oversight in reviewing and verifying the AI output

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AI Ethics

Creating a Positive AI-Infused World is Up to Us

Governments and corporations are trying to create effective regulations and guidelines to govern AI. They have much more work to do in promoting ethical and responsible AI use. Users also have personal responsibilities to avoid harming themselves and others. Here are some ethical issues related to AI:

Major societal issues

• Job loss, economic shifts, income inequality
• Over-reliance on AI, diminishing human capabilities
• Digital divides between those who have AI knowledge and access and those who do not
• New risks for civil and political rights as AI facilitates data collection and mass surveillance
• Global AI power imbalances as nations with advanced AI exert political, economic and military dominance over less- developed countries
• Loss of human control over AI systems

Intellectual property

AI models are frequently trained on copyrighted works without the creators’ permission. This raises legal and ethical questions about ownership. Treat AI output like any other information – don’t assume it’s free to use without checking the rights on the original source. If you use AI output, significantly modify it and add value with your own ideas. Favor AI tools that are transparent about their training data and licensing.

Environmental impact

The development and use of AI systems is increasing energy demand, as are cryptocurrency, streaming video and other systems. Don’t think of these tools as limitless resources that can be carelessly wasted or used for trivial purposes.

Privacy and safety

Sharing personal information with an AI system may put yourself or others at risk. The information could be accessed and used in ways beyond your control by government authorities or private corporations. This is especially relevant in authoritarian states, where political control and mass surveillance is common. Configure AI settings so your data is not used for training new models, and never share information about others without their permission.

Bias and fairness

AI models are developed using vast amounts of information, much of it drawn from English language sources. As a result, AI models can inherit prejudices and factual errors found in the source materials. AI output may also be influenced by government propaganda and censorship or corporate restrictions. It is up to AI users to recognize biases and not perpetuate false or misleading narratives and stereotypes.

Misuse of AI

AI tools can generate fake photos, videos and audio. They can provide instructions for mounting disinformation campaigns, cyberattacks or making weapons of violence. Even seemingly innocuous uses, such as AI-created social media posts, can spin out of control. Use these powerful technologies with utmost care.

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AI and Your Career

Create a Two-Part Career Plan for the Age of AI

As AI tools become more powerful, distinctly human capabilities become increasingly valuable. Use AI as a tool to supplement and amplify your essential human abilities.

1. Strengthen Your Human Capabilities

Skills you will need:

• Critical thinking: Analyzing complex situations; identifying bad assumptions, logical flaws and unreliable sources
• Creativity and innovation: Generating novel ideas, solving problems in new ways, being comfortable with ambiguity, constructively challenging conventional wisdom
• Emotional intelligence: Building empathy and strong listening skills, mastering conflict resolution and negotiation, reading social dynamics, building intercultural competence, developing resilience and emotional self-regulation
• Strategic thinking: Seeing beyond immediate problems to broader implications, identifying emerging opportunities and threats, planning for scenarios and risks
• Leadership and collaboration: Motivating a team, delegating and overseeing tasks, giving and receiving constructive feedback, building consensus and managing conflict

How to develop these skills:

• Cultivate mentors who can guide your development
• Take classes or seminars focused on your personal and professional growth and development
• Seek leadership roles in student and professional organizations
• Join group, research and community projects
• Make internships a priority in your education

No previous generation has encountered the challenges you face in preparing for a career. You must become proficient with AI while also developing your distinctly human capabilities. Dedicate your university years to gaining experience in both domains, mastering this twin set of superpowers.

2. Become AI-literate

Skills you will need:

• Fundamental AI skills: Writing effective prompts, fact-checking AI output, combining outputs from multiple AI tools, writing and editing with AI, working ethically with AI
• Technical understanding: Basic knowledge of how different types of AI work, understanding AI limitations and biases
• Professional AI applications: Using AI tools specific to your field; information research, data analysis and visualization
• AI integration: Creating workflows and documentation that combine AI and human input, protocols for quality control of AI output, keeping AI secure and guarding data privacy

How to develop these skills:

• Take courses focused on AI tools and applications
• Get to know professors and mentors who can share what they know about AI
• Complete AI certification programs
• Build a portfolio of AI-assisted projects
• Join AI professional organizations and student AI groups

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