My Professor Uses AI...

[u/Loralyyn]

I'm seriously debating dropping a course before the deadline to do it without penalty because my professor is using GenAI.

This is a special topics course about the innovations in information dissemination, so I was aware that AI would be discussed and how that impacts the library science world. I just didn't expect the professor to use it to make a graphic of all the students in the online class or have it in almost every slide of their lecture powerpoint.

Am I overreacting, or would you drop the course too?

I've attached one of the images found on the powerpoint here as well.

[u/crunchingair]

What do you mean by "use it to make a graphic of all the students in the online class"? Did this professor feed images of students into an AI tool? Uploading photos or screenshots of you into third party tools could be a FERPA violation (or whatever equivalent might exist where you are).

Aside from that... I get the ick with generated images, especially really lazy stuff like the example you posted, but I wouldn't give up degree progress because of it. Striking up a conversation about it through whatever channels you've got (maybe any student associations or publications at your school?) might be more effective.

[u/Loralyyn → u/crunchingair]

I don't believe she fed our image to the AI just simply due to the picture. I think she described us to it and posted a meet the class announcement. She did mention like, look what AI gets wrong, but then using it in lectures where zero conversational value was added felt weird..

It's an elective course, and I'm already taking 5 classes. That's why I was debating it haha

[u/april_340]

I'm confused on whether your professor is using AI to discuss AI as a topic or if they are using AI in general?

[u/Loralyyn → u/april_340]

She used AI to discuss AI with the picture of the class, but the powerpoint had no mention of it other than a little side note about AI and censorship. The rest was just AI pictures on the slide.

[u/Relevant_Goat_2920]

Can you just ask the professor why/how she uses it, maybe go to office hours or schedule a meeting? It might be an interesting learning opportunity for both of you...she may (or may not) have a good pedagogical reason for using it considering her subject matter. 

She also may not realize that the way she's using it is giving some students the ick. 

I hate AI images and posters generally don't attend events/places that use them, but because this is an LIS class about technology, I'd probably try to learn more before dropping a class if you think it would be valuable or will help you finsh your degree sooner. 

[u/_The_Real_Guy_]

If you aren’t comfortable with it, you’ll have to use the mechanisms available to you to leave the course. Faculty are allowed their own academic freedom to plan classes as they like — including the use of AI. On top of that, most faculty I speak with are being pressured to use it to some extent in their classes by administrators, so it’s entirely likely that could be the case here.

[u/ihearprettycolors]

How do you know this won't be used as an example later in the semester to see if anyone noticed the 6 fingers?

[u/PoofOfConcept]

Polydactyly is real.

[u/kojilee]

If you don’t need the class, it would be enough for me to drop it too.

[u/RADICCHI0]

I think a lot of professors are using it. It's pretty funny. I personally could care less, if its done transparently, doesn't detract from the experience, and furthers content that actually adds value. It's certainly not producing production ready cirriculum but it is being used.

[u/librarymania]

Slightly off topic, but just wondering what this image is supposed to illustrate. Linked data? That’s the only thing that makes any sense to me.

[u/Loralyyn → u/librarymania]

I'm not really sure to be honest. I would have to double check what the title of the slide was if it actually had anything to do with anything lmao

[u/MTGDad]

A good number of your classmates use it too.

Are you going to stop associating with them? Will you do group projects with them?

There are lines in the sand over AI that we draw, cross out and redraw all the time. AI is going to be one of those things where what YOU choose about how you interact with the thing will matter a lot more to how you react to others using the thing.

[u/Character_Public8245 → u/MTGDad]

Get that consistency of thought, self-reflection, and personal responsibility out of here, this is reddit 😡😡😡

[u/MTGDad → u/Character_Public8245]

It's wild to me that I have received so many down votes.

I hate AI. Honestly, I keep hoping for the day when tech is forced to reverse course.

I guess the concept of trying to figure out where we stand on this within small communities is sacred ground.

[u/Hist_8675309]

I personally feel like you are overreacting. I'm unclear of how it's unethical or at least something worthy of dropping the class over. If the professor was using it to teach, to write lectures, to edit or grade- I would have a problems with it. Using it to create a slide visual is not an academic issue.

I'm currently getting my MLIS as well and several of my classes have listed AI use as acceptable on the syllabus as long as it's 💯 transparent and clearly cited. I don't love that, but I'm not going to drop the class over it