Fresno State students have a new to-do list item in their student portal this year. 

 The California State University (CSU) has implemented the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools and training for 460,000 students and 60,000 faculty and staff members as part of a landmark initiative to become the nation’s largest AI-empowered university system. 

“We try to be thoughtful in rolling out ChatGPT to our students, making sure that they are using it responsibly,” said Bao Johri, vice president of information technology and chief information officer at Fresno State. “There are ethics to consider.”

If students wish to use AI tools for academic work, they are required to read and sign the Student Terms and Conditions for Use of Generative AI Tools & Solutions. 

Once signed and approved, they will receive an email from OpenAI within one business day indicating access has been granted. Hence, the ChatGPT Edu journey begins at Fresno State. 

If they sign the terms and conditions, students agree to follow the guidelines outlined in the agreement, which define the appropriate use, associated risks and academic expectations for AI technologies. Students are also required to comply with the policy and procedures on cheating and plagiarism. 

ChatGPT does have limitations. Johri said some of the generative AI tools have the potential to provide responses that can contain biases and hallucinations. 

Bias occurs because OpenAI is trained on vast amounts of internet data, which reflects human and societal prejudices. Large language models, such as ChatGPT, can generate false and nonsensical information because they are advanced pattern-matching tools rather than reliable sources of factual knowledge. 

Johri said that several guidelines have been inserted into the student conduct handbook, but at the end of the day, she encourages faculty and students to engage with one another. 

“We lean on our faculty to really help us lead the way on this,” Johri said.

Faculty members and students have the option to use ChatGPT Edu or not. However, for those who choose to use it, the definition of what constitutes unethical use is murky and undefined. 

“It’s bewildering to students and it sends mixed messages to them,” said Professor Aaron Schuelke, who teaches in the Department of Media, Communications and Journalism. 

Schuelke said that this past week, when he reviewed the syllabus, he informed students that they cannot use AI without prior arrangements with him. He is concerned about the use of AI in creative fields, specifically screenwriting and filmmaking. 

His overall concern is that the administration has been too gung-ho and that AI has been rolled out separately without any real collaboration with faculty who have concerns about how it’s actually being used. Schuelke said that the students are getting this head-snapping mixed message.

“I said in class last week that the students are getting mixed messages from us about AI,” Schuelke said. “The student is coming into the classroom and being told, ‘Don’t, don’t,’ and the administration is saying, ‘Lookie, you can have this!’”

Johri said that Fresno State has six AI committees, composed of more than 60 faculty and students, tasked with integrating AI generative tools into the academic curriculum. Additionally, she will host a 30-minute web series, “The AI Conversation.” 

The first episode is scheduled for Sept. 4 at 12:30 p.m., and the first guest will be Thanos Eris Panagopoulos, associate professor of computer science at Fresno State. The conversation will explore the evolving role of AI in real-world problem-solving, the ethical challenges of intelligent systems and the future of interdisciplinary collaborations. 

“We need to introduce the AI tools at the right moment and not before the students have developed the skills,” Panagopoulos said. “Humans are required for the supervisor role, and we are in a transitional period.” 

Panagopoulos said that students have been using AI already, even before ChatGPT Edu was available.

“I’m not entirely sure what ChatGPT Edu offers in addition to their free version,” Panagopoulos said. “I asked the university and got some answers that it’s more private and tailored, but they are very general about it.” 

He said that even with the free version, you can access the settings on OpenAI and opt out of having your data collected. 

Johri said that ChatGPT Edu is tailored for specific tasks, such as custom instructions, uploading domain-specific knowledge files and optionally connecting to external devices.

Panogopoulos said that students who don’t know how to use OpenAI will be at a disadvantage compared to their competitors when applying for job positions. The positive aspect is that it is available at no cost, giving equity to all Fresno State students. 

Biology major Esmeralda Palafox said that she used ChatGPT before it was made available to Fresno State students. 

“I used it to write a resume letter, or fix my resume, or a personal statement for a job,” Palafox said. 

Palafox said that her English professor told students that she thinks ChatGPT Edu is an excellent tool and encouraged them to use it to generate ideas, but not to use it as a replacement for their own work. 

A child family science major, who chose to remain anonymous because he is uncomfortable admitting that he has used ChatGPT in the past, said that he used ChatGPT mainly to find resources for his studies. Still, he would not let it do his homework for him. 

“I didn’t notice the offer for ChatGPT Edu in the student portal, but if it is available as a resource, I might try it,” he said. 

Johri said that reading, writing and research skills are part of the process of learning. Ultimately, it is critical thinking and communication skills that will take you far as a citizen. 

“We are operating in a world where AI is going to be integrated,” Johri said. “It’s important that our students have exposure to these AI tools when they leave the university.”