AI and Academic Integrity: What Should You Keep in Mind as a Student?
Generative AI can support you in your academic work—for example, in brainstorming, drafting, translating or programming. However, the principles of academic integrity still apply when using AI. The Toolkit offers an introduction to academic integrity and good academic practice. The following explains what these four fundamental principles mean for the use of AI in your studies.
AI and the Four Principles of Academic Integrity
1. Responsibility
An AI cannot be the author of an academic paper. You remain responsible for the accuracy and quality of your work—even when it includes AI-generated content. Use AI in a way that supports your academic work, independent thinking, and learning, but does not replace them.
2. Reliability
Trust in scientific findings requires transparency and recognized standards. This also applies to AI: Disclose which tool or version you used, when, for what purpose, and how. Where and in what form this is done depends on the guidelines of your university or your instructors. Internal documentation can help you track your own work process later on, regardless of any specific guidelines.
3. Respect
Good scientific practice includes treating other students, researchers, society, and the environment with respect. Before using an AI tool, consider what data you are entering. Data protection and confidentiality are important criteria when using AI or selecting a tool. Be aware that your data may be reused by commercial providers.
In particular, do not enter any confidential or personal information into an AI tool unless you have confirmed that this is permitted.
4. Integrity
Good scientific practice includes integrity, fairness, and impartiality. Do not treat AI as a reliable scientific source, and always check AI-generated content for accuracy as well as for potential distortions and biases.
To verify whether you have applied the four principles of academic integrity while writing a paper, ask yourself if you can answer the following questions with a resounding “yes”:
Do the arguments and content of my paper fundamentally originate from me?
Can I explain and take responsibility for the arguments and content of my paper myself?
Have I used only permitted AI tools and features?
Have I critically reviewed all AI-generated content myself?
Have I observed data protection and confidentiality?
Have I verified references and citations against the original sources?
Have I documented my use of AI and—where required—disclosed it?
Am I familiar with the AI rules for my work, and have I reviewed the relevant guidelines from the university, the faculty, and the instructors?
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)