ChatGTP and other large language model AI present a disruption to existing modes of information retrieval and production not seen since the Web became widely accessible. It is our responsibility to facilitate and support the ethical, critical and information literate use of ChatGPT and other AI.
The Association of College and Research Libraries Framework for Information Literacy can offer guidance on the critical, effective and ethical use of ChatGPT and other large language model AI tools. The Framework is composed of six interrelated core concepts, which provide for the organization of the following list of AI competencies for using ChatGPT.
Students should be aware that the responses generated by the AI model are based on language patterns and a specific corpus of training data, which reflects the existing bias and level of expertise available on the open web.
Students should critically evaluate the information provided and consider the context in which they are using it.
Students should be aware that ChatGPT is not extracting information from specific sources that it can name or identify.
Students need to recognize how the responses are generated from a complex process involving training data, algorithms, and language patterns.
Students should be aware that their own queries or prompts can expose and produce the limitations, potential biases, and glitches associated with AI-generated responses.
Students should see their role in the information creation process as critical to their ability to learn and crucial for the common good.
Students should understand that they are contributing free labor toward the improvement of a product that will be sold to them.
Students need to be aware that the textual data set used to train ChatGPT comprises works of human authorship, some of which are under copyright, and that some of the major sources are Common Crawl, Wikipedia and BookCorpus.
Students should be aware that ChatGPT is not the best tool of inquiry because of its 2021 "knowledge" cut-off date.
Students should recognize that ChatGPT may not provide comprehensive or fully accurate information
Students should plan a line of inquiry on information retrieved from ChatGPT through the use of other tools such as search engines and library databases.
Students using ChatGPT should be encouraged to critically engage with the information provided and validate it through outside sources.
Students need to be aware that any information provided by ChatGPT does not have traceable sources.
Students need to understand answers they receive from ChatGPT are non-retrievable and non-replicable and therefore exist outside the public discourse.
Students should employ strategic questioning techniques (prompting) to obtain the most relevant and reliable information.
Students should also be aware that, as with internet or library catalog searching, their own level of expertise can influence the results of any prompt they provide ChatGPT.