This week’s readings got me thinking: How much is AI not just in our classrooms, but also in our future careers? It feels like we’re navigating a brand-new world, and the lines haven’t been drawn yet.
One area that stood out from the paper “Augmenting the Author” is the issue of transparency. The authors highlight the “depth of transparency in researchers’ access and utilization of AI” and the concerns this raises about the “reliability and credibility of AI-generated text.” This really resonates when we think about assignments or professional reports. How do we know if the work is truly our own or mostly AI-generated?
A key grey area lies in defining authentic authorship and intellectual contribution when AI is involved. For example, in one of my previous classes, an alumnus from Pfizer told us that they sometimes use AI to generate mock drug syntheses, which they then refine and test. I found this interesting in relation to this week’s discussion, but I didn’t get a chance to ask about it at the time AI’s usage and credited contributions can be a touchy subject.
As the researchers point out, there’s a concern that reviewers (or instructors) might end up “validating AI’s work” instead of the author’s. Moving forward, clear guidelines emphasizing transparency about AI use will be crucial. We need to foster a culture where acknowledging AI assistance isn’t seen as a weakness but as a step toward ethical and responsible innovation.
This is a thoughtful and timely reflection that captures the complexity of authorship in the age of AI. Your point about transparency and the example from Pfizer make the issue feel real and relevant beyond the classroom. You might consider elaborating on how we can practically implement transparency—what would disclosure look like in academic or professional contexts? Should there be standardized practices or tools to track AI contributions?
Hey Ama! I agree, navigating the lines of transparent AI use can be confusing and intimidating at times. I appreciate how the Wooster alum from Pfizer you mentioned, explained how they use AI in their field today. That kind of conversational transparency is so important, as it can set a good example for others!