How to use generative AI
A prompt must be given to a generative AI tool in order to produce content in response.
Generative AI tools work with masses of data. An algorithm then scrambles and re-assembles that content in response to directive prompts you provide.
Generative AI (such as ChatGPT or Dall.e2) requires a prompt in the form of text. Other generative AI will have a series of prompts for users to select in order to generate content or will require a file to be uploaded to the generative AI tool.
Developing effective text-based prompts
With any prompt a user should be clear and concise in what it they want the generative AI to create. For generative AI that use text-based prompts, it is useful to continually refine your wording. Start with an initial prompt and then continue to review the content produced by the generative AI and adapt your prompt to improve the output.
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Be specific - “Give me ten dot points on.....”, or “Make a visual map of literature review steps”, or “In 50 words or less explain.....”
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Have a tone - “Explain to a grade 12 student......”, “Write in a polite manner......” or “Create a calm binaural soundscape for focused study”
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Achievable goal - “Translate text to......” or “Write a press release......” or “Explain quantum mechanics.....” or “Generate a photo of cell structure that include labels”
These tools work best when given these types of prompts and struggle to create meaningful content when given ambiguous and open-ended prompts.
Note
To learn more about writing prompts check out the article How to perfect your prompt writing for ChatGPT, Midjourney and other AI generators
Exploring generative AI tools
When you are exploring generative AI you need to determine which tools match your purpose. Keep in mind that many AI tools require paid subscriptions to access and will have different terms and conditions on ownership of the content generated and how you can use it.
Click on the plus (+) icons below to explore a range of generative AI tools:
ChatGPT
ChatGPT (Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer) is a chatbot developed by OpenAI. It uses Natural Language Processing (NLP) to answer questions, write content, summarise information and more, in a conversational tone.
Ways it can help with your study
- Copyediting and improving grammar, sentence construction and other language elements
- Summarising information like your class or research notes
- Generating practice or quiz questions for exam preparation
- Translating text into different languages
- Providing stimulus or generate ideas that you extend and develop
- To organise your study time
Limitations
- Doesn’t reference/cite its sources
- May generate false information (referred to as hallucinations)
- Can be generic and lack true understanding of content area
- Can misinterpret the question or prompt
Stable Diffusion
Stable Diffusion is an AI art generator that enables users to create unique imagery from short text descriptions, also known as prompts.
Ways it can help with your study
- Creating imagery for class presentations
- Turning text concepts into images
- Being a source of creative inspiration
Limitations
- Risk of the art breaching copyright by containing substantial parts from another artist
- Can misinterpret prompt
- Fine detail can be of low quality
- Iterating the same image, tweaking elements, isn’t easily done
DALL.E2
DALL·E 2 is an AI system that enables users to create images and art from a text description in natural language.
Ways it can help with your study
- Create imagery for class presentations
- Turning text concepts into imagery
- Being a source of creative inspiration
Limitations
- Risk of the art breaching copyright by containing substantial parts from another artist
- Can misinterpret prompt
- Fine detail can be of low quality
- Iterating the same image, tweaking elements, isn't easily done
AIVA
AIVA is AI composing software that empowers creators to make royalty free music.
Ways it can help with your study
- Creating music based on a mood or genre for focused study
- Make background music to use for a presentation
- Making background music for videos, games or podcasts
- Being a source of creative inspiration
Limitations
- Risk of the music breaching copyright by containing substantial parts from another artist
- Lacking in originality
- Difficult to edit the music it generates
Explainpaper
Explainpaper allows users to upload a paper, highlight confusing text, and get an explanation.
Ways it can help with your study
- Understanding a complex text
- Explaining complex terminology or jargon
- Checking your comprehension on a difficult topic
Limitations
- Currently cannot explain mathematical functions
- May generate false information (referred to as hallucinations)
- Can misinterpret the question or prompt
Jasper.ai
Jasper is a generative AI platform targeted to businesses that helps users create content such as social media posts, advertising, emails, articles and imagery.
Ways it can help with your study
- Brainstorming new ideas
- Creating content quickly
- Templates that can be easily adapted
Limitations
- Requires a paid subscription
- Technical or specialist content is often generic or incorrect
- Requires fact checking to ensure accuracy of dates, context and theories
- Can misinterpret the question or prompt
Gen-1 Runway
Gen-1 Runway uses images and text prompts to generate videos.
Ways it can help with your study
- Creating videos
- Apply special effects onto your video (such as converting motion capture image into animation)
- Being a source of creative inspiration
Limitations
- Requires Discord account
- Constraints of the Discord platform (generating multiple user content simultaneously)
- Can misinterpret the question or prompt
GitHub Copilot
GitHub Copilot is an AI pair programmer that translates natural human language into programming code.
Ways it can help with your study
- Turning concepts into code
- Rapid development time
- Identifying problems in existing code
- Some multilanguage support
Limitations
- Can weaken your learning of foundational coding
- Copyright issues
- Code suggestions can disrupt your own problem solving
- Expensive paid full subscription
- Can misinterpret the question or prompt
Elicit and Scite
Elicit and Scite are based on language models that attempt to summarise and extract information from papers, to locate other papers they deem to be relevant to your paper and provide analysis for citations from a paper.
Ways it can help with your research
- Compare and evaluate how you have interpreted a research paper
- Locate other research papers that might relate to your topic
- Provide additional research papers that relate to your topic
Limitations
- May generate false information (referred to as hallucinations)
- Provide inaccurate analysis or evaluation of a research paper
- Can miss papers that would be relevant to your topic
Raxter and Genei
Raxter and Genei can extract keywords and generate summaries by paraphrasing sections from PDFs or webpages.
Ways it can help with your research
- Quickly generate a summary of key sections
- Find crucial information faster
- Locate other research papers that might relate to your topic
Limitations
- Provide inaccurate analysis or evaluation of a research paper
- Requires a paid subscription
TOME
Tome enables users to create content such as presentations, portfolios, guides, reports and more. You describe the topic in a prompt and Tome will source the information and imagery for you to adapt.
Ways it can help with your study
- Creating content quickly
- Templates that can be easily adapted
Limitations
- Free trial has creation constraints
- Requires fact checking to ensure accuracy
- Doesn’t reference/cite its sources
Key considerations
There are heaps of generative AI tools out there. Each one has its own pros and cons.
You may need to go searching and investigating, to find a generative AI tool that meets your purpose.
Signing up to most generative AI tools is free now. Be aware users may need to pay to use these tools in the future.