Generative AI is moving fast, and chances are, you’re already using it without even realizing it. Tools like Google now use AI to generate answers right at the top of your search results. It’s becoming part of everyday life, whether you’re actively seeking it out or not.
That’s why it’s important to think about the bigger picture – especially when it comes to your academic work. As a student, you’re navigating a new academic landscape where AI tools can help with research, but they also raise some important questions:
• How do we protect our privacy?
• What impact does this technology have on jobs and the environment?
• How do we make sure we’re not relying on it too much?
• And how does AI training and generation affect copyrighted works?
Generative AI tools often collect the information users enter in their prompts to improve future performance. Some tools let you turn off data collection, either in the settings or by upgrading to a paid version.
It’s wise to read the tool’s privacy policy carefully to understand how your data may be used. As a general rule, avoid sharing personal, sensitive, or confidential information (such as your name, student ID, financial details, or health information) when interacting with these platforms. Treat it like you’re posting online: if you wouldn’t want it out in the world, keep it out of your prompt.
Generative AI tools might feel like magic, but they come with real-world costs. To begin with, they use more energy than traditional internet searches. A single AI-powered search can use up to ten times more electricity than a regular Google search, according to a 2024 report from the International Energy Agency.
As more people use these tools, the demand for electricity goes up, which can lead to more CO₂ emissions from burning fossil fuels. Plus, the data centers that power AI need intensive cooling systems, which often use a lot of water. Building and maintaining these systems also creates electronic waste and requires extraction of rare metals. Think manufacturing and mining on a global scale.
There’s also a human side to all this. Behind the scenes, AI models rely on low-wage workers to do menial tasks, such as data labeling, to ensure the tools function as desired and don’t expose users to disturbing content. Meanwhile, such laborers often face poor working conditions and exposure to explicit content themselves.
And while AI can be a powerful tool in education and the workplace, it can also widen the gap between those who have access to technology and those who don’t. That’s something to keep in mind as we navigate this new digital landscape.
AI tools can be super helpful – especially when you use them thoughtfully. They can save time, spark ideas, and help you get unstuck. But if you rely on them too much, it might slow down your growth in key areas like critical thinking.
It’s easy to assume that whatever an AI says is accurate and unbiased, but that’s not always the case. You still need to bring your own judgment to the table. Ask yourself: Does this information make sense? Where is it coming from? Can I verify it with a credible source?
Using AI shouldn’t replace your ability to research, evaluate sources, or think through complex problems. Those skills are essential – not just for school, but for life. So go ahead and use the tools, but make sure you’re still doing the thinking.
As AI tools get smarter and rely more on human-created content to learn, they’re raising some big questions about copyright. One thing to know right away: anything you type into an AI tool might be saved and used to train it later, unless the tool says otherwise. That means you should avoid sharing copyrighted material – like articles, book chapters, or even open access content – unless you have permission from the publisher.
Even open access doesn’t always mean “okay for AI use,” so it’s worth checking the fine print. (EBSCO has a helpful video on this topic if you want to dig deeper.)
Meanwhile, the legal world is still figuring things out. Ongoing court cases are exploring questions like:
• Does copyright require a human author?
• Can you copyright something you made with help from AI?
• Is it a copyright violation when AI learns from protected content?
The U.S. Copyright Office is keeping tabs on these developments and regularly updates its website with the latest information on AI and copyright policy.
Bottom line: be cautious with what you share, and when in doubt, ask a librarian. We’re here to help you stay on the right side of copyright while making the most of your tools.