UBC AI guidance

On this page, we give a brief overview of UBC guidelines for AI use. We recommend that you consult UBC Guidance on generative AI to make sure you are aware of all content that is relevant to you, which may be different from what we present here.

Professors will specify for each class or lab what AI usage is acceptable and that should be your main guidance, as long as it fits into the AI policies by UBC. UBC has a thorough explanation of what is and is not appropriate here, but we highlight a few key points from the website below. Our summary is general in nature and highlights elements of the UBC policy that are the most relevant to this workshop series.

Only use Cursor with files that can be made public. All files in a Cursor workspace may be indexed and shared with AI tools, even if you don’t enter them into the chat. Never use Cursor with personal or confidential data.

Key points from the UBC GenAI website

Principles

Don’t upload non-public data to an AI platform, and remember that you are responsible for the accuracy of the AI-generated output.

“Most generative AI tools store and use any data that is entered by users, meaning anything that is entered into the tool may be inappropriately exposed to third parties, including any proprietary material […], and any confidential or personal information entered about people. While it is possible and recommended to adjust the settings in some tools to disable the use of entered data to train the model, it is not certain that these measures mitigate the risks described above.”

“Generative AI tools produce results based on complex statistical analysis of an enormous body of training data gathered from publicly available sources. These analyses, at present, may not correct for bias or check for correctness, or may overcorrect for bias, and they may seem extremely believable while being inaccurate.”

Teaching & Learning Guidelines

AI can enhance learning, but there are concerns about appropriate use. This section also reinforces the importance of not sharing sensitive information or data with AI tools. In this section, UBC also points out that AI can be biased, give false information, and that passing off LLM output as your own is not ethical or allowed (plagiarism).

“Students are encouraged to explore GenAI tools to support their personal learning and academic development. For assessed work (assignments, exams, projects, theses, etc.), students may only use GenAI if expressly permitted by their instructor, supervisor, or program.”

“GenAI has the potential to enrich teaching and learning activities, and some may also support inclusion and enhance accessibility, depending on how they are used. […] However, such tools can and have been used in ways that are harmful to individuals and communities, and careful attention must be paid to topics such as academic integrity, accessibility, equity, Indigenous data sovereignty, and privacy and intellectual property.”

Academic Integrity Guidelines

UBC states that AI use is allowed in class, but only if permitted by the instructor. For instructors, the use of AI detection software is strongly discouraged.

“Students may use GenAI in work submitted for courses or other academic requirements only if expressly permitted within their courses or programs. They may choose to use GenAI to support their learning in other ways, within the bounds of legal and university policies and requirements […]. Students should discuss this with their instructor if it is not addressed on the syllabus.”

“Turnitin’s new AI-detection functionality is not available for use in any UBC course. UBC has reaffirmed their decision to not enable Turnitin’s new AI-detection feature.”