Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to the use of programs, machines, and systems that simulate human intelligence. While AI has many applications, it is most commonly used to describe any type of technology (including voice recognition, robotics, and intelligent agents) to mimic human learning, problem solving, and logic (Whitson, 2023).
Artificial intelligence is used across all industries and academic subjects. The term is used to describe a variety of functions, such as finding the best route on Apple and Google Maps, self-driving cars, algorithms to display a list in a certain order on a website or in a social media app, and facial recognition software to unlock a smart phone. It is part of our everyday lives, at work, in school and at home.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has taken the world by storm. AI tools, such as ChatGPT, can create content in response to prompts that you type in. ChatGPT can, for example, help you plan an outline for a paper, create works of visual art, write computer code, and much more. Because AI is so new and so powerful, universities like UMGC are developing polices and guidelines having to do with AI and how students might be able to use it ethically and safely.
This guide has been created for students and instructors to explore how to responsibly and ethically use AI in their work. There is information about how to critically engage with AI tools, examples and further reading on how students and instructors can use AI tools in their work, as well as information about AI literacy, citing AI, and info on tools such as ChatGPT and others.
As Eaton and Anselmo (2023) described, “If we think of artificial intelligence apps as another tool that students can use to ethically demonstrate their knowledge and learning, then we can emphasize learning as a process not a product.”
Please note that most links in this guide open in new windows.
Below is information on using AI as a student and as an educator, as well as articles and reports about the current landscape of AI in education and in the workplace.
This UNESCO report discusses how AI is reshaping education around the world, often unequally, and calls for a reimagining of pedagogy, policy, and ethics to ensure inclusive, human-centered learning
This 2025 report from Microsoft describes AI as a creative partner and a workforce imperative, while also highlighting concerns around ethics and overreliance
The Cengage Group found that college students are eager to use AI for learning, but many feel unprepared for the workforce due to gaps in AI instruction; meanwhile, faculty are cautiously exploring AI’s potential to personalize education and reduce workload.
A 2025 article from the American Psychological Association exploring how tools like ChatGPT are widely used by teens for homework, prompting educators and psychologists to explore how AI can support learning without undermining social-emotional development or academic integrity.
McGill University Libraries created a list of definitions on many of the terms that are mentioned alongside AI.
This NPR interview with Safiya Noble addresses how advancements in artificial intelligence could further perpetuate biases in society.
This article from The Conversation discusses the future of teaching and learning alongside artificial intelligence.
This Ecampus Ontario open pressbook is a pragmatic guide to empowering citizen data-scientists to utilize common frameworks and tools to create conversational artificial intelligence experiences for users.
This guide was created by Julie Harding and Robert Miller, UMGC Library.
Parts of this guide are adapted (with changes) or reused from a guide created by Bronte Chiang at the University of Calgary. The University of Calgary guide is under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
References on this page:
Whitson, G. M. . I. B. M., PhD. (2023). Artificial intelligence. Salem Press Encyclopedia of Science.