AI Do's & Don'ts

Responsible Use of Generative AI at Western University

Do use AI to support your work, leveraging it as a tool to enhance productivity while maintaining human judgment and expertise.

Don’t rely on AI to fully take over tasks that require critical thinking, ethical considerations, or nuanced decision-making.

Do balance AI with human creativity. Use it for brainstorming and drafting but ensure originality and personal input in the final work.

Don’t let AI dictate the creative process. Avoid blindly accepting AI-generated content without refining it with your own insights.

Do use AI to improve efficiency by automating repetitive tasks like summarizing notes or drafting low risk emails.

Don’t use AI as a substitute for human expertise in areas requiring deep reasoning, emotional intelligence, or complex problem-solving.

Do verify AI-generated content to ensure accuracy and reliability before using it in your work.

Don’t assume AI is always correct. Always fact-check outputs, as AI can generate errors or misleading information.

Do use AI as a tool to assist in decision-making by providing data-driven insights.

Don’t delegate high-stakes decisions such as hiring or policy-making entirely to AI without human oversight.

Do disclose AI use when appropriate, especially in research and formal documents.

Don’t use AI without informing your team if it plays a significant role in your work.

Do check for bias in AI outputs to avoid perpetuating stereotypes or discrimination.

Don’t assume AI is free from bias. AI models are trained on human data and can reflect existing prejudices.

 

Security

Do be respectful of privacy by safeguarding personal, proprietary, and confidential data.

 Western's Data Classification Standard

Don’t input confidential or sensitive data into AI tools, as they may store or share information in ways that compromise security.

Which Generative AI Chatbot Should I Use

Do evaluate AI tools for reliability, security, and compliance before integrating them into your workflow.

Don’t bypass institutional approval when implementing AI solutions—ensure they align with university policies and data protection standards.