Not your Mama's Generative AI

A student at Harvard recently told me about a statement they were forced to sign upon assignment submission:

I understand and agree that use of a third party or generative artificial intelligence or machine learning software to develop my work, as opposed to assisting my assignment to suggest minor edits or to identify grammatical errors, is forbidden.

What does this mean?

Let’s walk through this statement piece by piece.

1. “use of a third party or generative artificial intelligence or machine learning software” covers the gambit of anything computational that has the ability to intelligently make decisions.

2. “to develop my work” covers the progression, or creation piece of an outside intelligence

So any software that creates on top of your work is strictly forbidden. The statement makes one exception:

1. “as opposed to assisting my assignment to suggest minor edits or to identify grammatical errors”

This sentence gives a specific example in opposition, regarding grammar and minor edits. Tools that could be classified as AI in this category include:

• Grammarly
• Hemingway Editor

However, those are just some specific examples. The overall intent is to express that certain AI tools are allowed, as long as they do not perform your work for you. They can assist, as opposed to generate.

What is the difference between generative and assistive?

It’s about who the 🎆main character🎆 is. In generative AI, it is the main character. You merely play the friend who visits from out of town. The AI does most of the heavy lifting to produce the actual work.

For assistive, you are the main character. Every plot twist is about you. AI helps move things along when you get stuck, but undoubtedly this work is yours and could not be done without your unique contributions.

What are some other AI tools that are assistive?

• Elicit (Research tool)
• Brainstory (Collaborative brainstorming tool)

In the world of generative AI, the role of humans is continually being automated. We made Brainstory specifically because we believe in a world where AI helps us humans think smarter. Do your best work with Brainstory.