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Using Generative AI

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How to Use Generative AI

A prompt must be given to a generative AI tool in order to produce content in response.

Generative AI (such as ChatGPT or Dall.e2) requires a prompt in the form of text. Other generative AI will have a series of prompts for users to select in order to generate content or will require a file to be uploaded to the generative AI tool.

With any prompt a user should be clear and concise in what it they want the generative AI to create:

  • Be specific - “Give me ten dot points on.....”, or “Make a visual map of literature review steps”, or “In 50 words or less explain.....”

  • Have a tone - “Explain to a grade 12 student......”, “Write in a polite manner......” or “Create a calm binaural soundscape for focused study”

  • Achievable goal - “Translate text to......” or “Write a press release......” or “Explain quantum mechanics.....” or “Generate a photo of cell structure that include labels”

These tools work best when given these types of prompts and struggle to create meaningful content when given ambiguous and open-ended prompts.

Note

To learn more about writing prompts check out the article How to perfect your prompt writing for ChatGPT, Midjourney, and other AI generators

Exploring generative AI tools

When you are exploring generative AI you need to determine which tools match your purpose. Keep in mind that many AI tools require paid subscriptions to access and will have different terms and conditions on ownership of the content generated and how you can use it.

Click on the plus (+) icons below to explore a range of generative AI tools:

ChatGPT (Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer) is a chatbot developed by OpenAI. It uses Natural Language Processing (NLP) to answer questions, write content, summarize information and more, in a conversational tone.

Ways it can help with your study

  • Copyediting and improving grammar, sentence construction and other language elements 
  • Summarizing information like your class or research notes   
  • Generating practice or quiz questions for exam preparation 
  • Translating text into different languages
  • Providing stimulus or generate ideas that you extend and develop 
  • To organize your study time

Limitations

  • Doesn’t reference/cite its sources
  • May generate false information (referred to as hallucinations)
  • Can be generic and lack true understanding of content area
  • Can misinterpret the question or prompt

Stable Diffusion is an AI art generator that enables users to create unique imagery from short text descriptions, also known as prompts.

Ways it can help with your study

  • Creating imagery for class presentations
  • Turning text concepts into images
  • Being a source of creative inspiration

Limitations

  • Risk of the art breaching copyright by containing substantial parts from another artist
  • Can misinterpret prompt
  • Fine detail can be of low quality
  • Iterating the same image, tweaking elements, isn’t easily done

DALL·E 2 is an AI system that enables users to create images and art from a text description in natural language.

Ways it can help with your study

  • Create imagery for class presentations
  • Turning text concepts into imagery
  • Being a source of creative inspiration

Limitations

  • Risk of the art breaching copyright by containing substantial parts from another artist
  • Can misinterpret prompt
  • Fine detail can of low quality
  • Iterating the same image, tweaking elements, isn't easily done

AIVA is AI composing software that empowers creators to make royalty free music.

Ways it can help with your study

  • Creating music based on a mood or genre for focused study
  • Make background music to use for a presentation
  • Making background music for videos, games or podcasts
  • Being a source of creative inspiration

Limitations

  • Risk of the music breaching copyright by containing substantial parts from another artist
  • Lacking in originality
  • Difficult to edit the music it generates

Explainpaper allows users to upload a paper, highlight confusing text, and get an explanation.

Ways it can help with your study

  • Understanding a complex text
  • Explaining complex terminology or jargon
  • Checking your comprehension on a difficult topic

Limitations

  • Currently cannot explain mathematical functions
  • May generate false information (referred to as hallucinations)
  • Can misinterpret the question or prompt

Jasper is a generative AI platform targeted to businesses that helps users create content such as social media posts, advertising, emails, articles and imagery.

Ways it can help with your study

  • Brainstorming new ideas
  • Creating content quickly
  • Templates that can be easily adapted

Limitations

  • Requires a paid subscription
  • Technical or specialist content is often generic or incorrect
  • Requires fact checking to ensure accuracy of dates, context and theories
  • Can misinterpret the question or prompt

Gen-1 Runway uses images and text prompts to generate videos.

Limitations

  • Creating videos
  • Apply special effects onto your video (such as converting motion capture image into animation)
  • Being a source of creative inspiration

Blog Post

  • Requires Discord account
  • Constraints of the Discord platform (generating multiple user content simultaneously)
  • Can misinterpret the question or prompt

GitHub Copilot is an AI pair programmer that translates natural human language into programming code.

Ways it can help with your study

  • Turning concepts into code
  • Rapid development time
  • Identifying problems in existing code
  • Some multi-language support

Limitations

  • Can weaken your learning of foundational coding
  • Copyright issues
  • Code suggestions can disrupt your own problem solving
  • Expensive paid full subscription
  • Can misinterpret the question or prompt

Key considerations

There are heaps of generative AI tools out there. Each one has its own pros and cons.

You may need to go searching and investigating, to find a generative AI tool that meets your purpose.

Signing up to most generative AI tools is free now. Be aware users may need to pay to use these tools in the future.