Interlude: AI, Integrity, and Thinking

I've been getting a lot of questions about the future of writing and editing with the new AI tools that have become available. I see pros and cons to these tools. So, I thought I'd create a themed edition of this newsletter to share some of what I'm thinking about.

One big thing on my mind is integrity.

The aspect of integrity that many people are thinking about is plagiarism. And rightfully so.

But I think that the integrity also extends to the science itself. For example, an AI tool cannot review a publication and tell you whether you believe that the research had sound methods, a robust analysis, or valid interpretations. You only get that information from analyzing and interpreting the research in the context of your unique knowledge and thinking. And this thinking is what stimulates novel ideas that advance science.

In other words, AI tools can strip away valuable opportunities for you to think critically. And if you strip away your opportunities to think critically, you also strip away your opportunities to think uniquely. And your unique thinking is what you have to offer your field and the world.

And now onto the good stuff...

💌 Round-up

👓 Reading

Tools such as ChatGPT threaten transparent science; here are our ground rules for their use
“…researchers using LLM tools should document this use in the methods or acknowledgements sections. If a paper does not include these sections, the introduction or another appropriate section can be used to document the use of the LLM.”

Why AI won’t replace human editors – and AI agrees
From ChatGPT: "While I can assist with proofreading, editing and generating new content, I lack the human creativity, intuition and critical thinking that are necessary for professional copyediting...Additionally, copyediting is not just about checking grammar and syntax, but it also includes making sure that the text is written with a specific tone, style and audience in mind, which requires a human understanding of the context and the meaning behind the words."

🧰 Tools

GPTZero
Are you concerned that your students will use AI tools for assignments? Check out GPTZero, which will give you a holistic score that indicates how much of a document is written by AI.
 

📝 Challenge

Take a few minutes to think beyond the potential convenience of using AI technology for writing. How might these tools be harmful for advancing your thinking and career?

Thank you so much for reading.

Warmly,

Crystal