Notice on Using Generative AI

Dear students,

Generative AI, which can create a wide variety of data, such as text, program code, and images in response to prompts from users, has been rapidly advancing in recent years. ChatGPT and other AI chatbots use natural language processing (NLP) technology to generate text by interacting with a user in a conversational way, using enormous amounts of data on the internet, and predicting the next word and phrase in a given context.

Providing generative AI with appropriate questions and information allows AI to perform various tasks in far more refined way, enhancing our work efficiency. As such, when used appropriately, AI can be a very useful tool.

That being said, there are a few issues that you must keep in mind when using these tools. First of all, since information found on the web is not always correct, AI-generated content may result in errors.

You should be aware of the risk of using AI-generated answers as your own words without verifying the information contained therein. Also, what you enter into a generative AI system may be stored and learned by it, which can lead to leaking of personal information leaking. Thus, you must not enter personal and sensitive data into generative IT systems. Also, when making a piece of art using AI art generators, using scraped media from the web may be considered copyright infringement.

Creating content using generative AI cannot deepen your knowledge. The significance of higher education lies in shaping your ideas by integrating various information and then producing your own unique way of thinking by exposing yourself to different opinions and through dialogue with others. You should know that the learning process and interpersonal exchange are also important aspects of learning at university.

Osaka University hopes that you will take the initiative to consider serious issues you will face in your life and solve complex social issues with various stakeholders. All of your experiences on campus – the sense of fulfillment and excitement that comes from conducting research activities at classes and laboratories, successes and failures of experiments, and a sense of achievement after finishing a presentation in class – will make you grow. You should not ignore any step in the learning process.

For more information about the ethical, legal, and social issues (ELSI) of generative AI, please take a look at “Overview of Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues (ELSI) Regarding Generative AI” (ELSI NOTE No. 26, March 2023) published by Osaka University’s Research Center on Ethical, Legal and Social Issues in April 2023. (Note: This report is only available in Japanese.)

April 17, 2023

NISHIO Shojiro
President, Osaka University