Many of us are old enough to remember when PCs, cellphones and the internet were new, and to some they seemed like fads whose future impact on our lives was not readily apparent. It’s easy to dismiss today’s Generative AI tools like ChatGPT as another overhyped fad. Unlike those earlier technologies that evolved over decades, the pace at which Generative AI (GenAI) will advance is going to be much faster and just as revolutionary.
So, should UTA’s staff use it, and if so, how should we use it? The answer to the first part of that questions is a resounding, “Yes.” But… and you knew there was a “but” coming, there are a couple of caveats and some guidance I’d like to recommend. First of all, please visit ai.uta.edu often for new posts from your peers at UTA about AI use in different parts of our institution. Here are a few more suggestions on making the most of GenAI in your business or operational area:
- Start Using it Now – Many of your coworker across UTA are already leveraging GenAI in their work. As you get started, please read and keep in mind our guidance on how to use GenAI Tools safely. An easy way to give GenAI a try is to open the Edge browser on your PC and navigate to Microsoft Copilot. It’s free to use the most advanced version of ChatGPT or generate an image using DALL-E 3 via that browser interface.
- Fact Check Everything – GenAI is improving daily, but it can still get things wrong and will assert its errors with great confidence. Review and check all AI created content for accuracy. If the content is beyond your level or area of expertise, seek a human being with that expertise to proof the content. Do not assume because it sounds true that it is.
- Transparency – If you use GenAI in your work, whether that’s language, graphics, video or coding, you should consider transparently saying so, e.g. “This graphic was generated using Adobe Firefly”, or “FYI, I proofed and revised this document with Google Gemini”. Your transparency may also encourage others to give AI tools a try.
- Do Not Conceal AI Use from colleagues, students, or others. As an example, using AI tools to transcribe meeting notes and summarize action items will be a huge productivity boost for many of us, but in the same way that we notify others that we are recording a Teams or Zoom meeting, we should be transparent if we have an AI taking notes. And be aware, it’s not the same as a recording. The AI can make mistakes or misunderstand different accents.
- Know if Your Tools use GenAI – If you manage the selection of or use of tools in your area, it’s important you understand if or how your vendors are using GenAI. If it’s used, how is UTA’s data being secured and how they are avoiding errors and bias in its output. Use UTA’s Technology Acquisition Helper when selecting new solutions for your area.