Citations + Plagiarism

ChatGPT (Generative Pre-Trained Transformer) is a type of artificial intelligence language model developed by OpenAI. It is designed to understand and generate human-like text based on the input it receives. ChatGPT is pre-trained on a massive amount of text from the internet, which helps it learn grammar, context, and various language patterns. This training allows it to generate responses that are often coherent and relevant to the input it receives. It can be used for a wide range of applications, such as answering questions, providing information, assisting with tasks, and engaging in conversation. The more people that use and interact with ChatGPT, the better it becomes at understanding and generating human language (OpenAI, 2023).

Essentially, ChatGPT is a powerful chatbot that can answer questions put forward by users. It is not a search engine that retrieves already existing information from the internet, instead it creates outputs based on information already stored in its databases. ChatGPT uses mathematical formulas to make informed guesses at to what an appropriate response to a query would be, as such ChatGPT can sometimes guess wrongly and its response to a query can be nonsensical (University of Michigan Library, 2023).

According to Niagara College’s Academic Honesty Policy (2019), plagiarism is “the use of someone else’s work and presenting it as one’s own without properly documenting the source.” Even though ChatGPt is AI, and not a person, it is still academically dishonest to present the work of a robot as your own (University of South Florida Libraries 2023). If you choose to use ChatGPT to help generate content for your assignments (and only if your instructor allows), you must cite the material as coming from ChatGPT.

For more information on citing ChatGPT and Academic Integrity, see the following:

• ChatGPT and Academia: Concerns
• How to Check ChatGPT for Credibility
• ChatGPT and Plagiarism
• How to Cite ChatGPT
• Works Cited/Additional Readings

Evaluating ChatGPT's Credibility

While ChatGPT can be a valuable tool, it's essential to critically evaluate the information it provides. Here are two strategies to help you assess the credibility of ChatGPT's responses:

1. Lateral Reading:

   • Don't rely solely on ChatGPT: Look for corroborating information from other reliable sources.
   • Search for additional evidence: Use search engines like Google or Wikipedia to verify the facts presented by ChatGPT.
   • Consider multiple perspectives: By consulting various sources, you can reduce the risk of bias and get a more comprehensive understanding of the topic.

2. Verify Citations:

   • Check the source's existence: If ChatGPT provides a citation, ensure that the source is real and accessible.
   • Validate the information: Read the source or its abstract to confirm that it contains the information attributed to it by ChatGPT.
   • Use scholarly databases: Tools like Google Scholar or your library's search databases can help you verify the credibility of academic sources.

By following these strategies, you can enhance your ability to evaluate the reliability of information generated by ChatGPT and make informed decisions based on your findings.