Generative AI

As we navigate the evolving landscape of Generative AI, we invite the entire campus community—students, faculty, and staff—to explore the uses and impacts of these groundbreaking technologies. Experimentation and hands-on experience help us to understand the strengths, limitations, and ethical considerations of using GenAI in academic and creative endeavors.

Submit Gen AI Projects/Inquiry

Generative AI Update Session from Ann Arbor

Get ready to dive into the fascinating world of AI and discover the cutting-edge innovations within the University’s own UMGPT, Maizey, and UM AI Toolkit offerings. This is your chance to hear about the newest features, explore exciting updates, and get an exclusive sneak peek at future enhancements.

Don Lambert, Service Manager for University of Michigan AI Services, presents and fields questions from UM-Flint Faculty and Staff.

What is Generative AI?

Generative AI (GenAI) creates new content, including text, images, music, voice, and video, in response to human prompts. The best-known tool is ChatGPT, a large language model trained on vast amounts of text to mirror the patterns of human language.

Tools like ChatGPT, Microsoft CoPilot, Google Gemini, and our own U-M GPT can summarize information, draft essays or code, translate, and brainstorm. They’re useful as research assistants and proofreaders, but their output may fall short of college-level rigor, and they’re sometimes confidently wrong.

See Generative AI in Action

Explore real examples of what today‘s AI tools can do, from written responses to original images and see the possibilities for yourself.

A yellow speech bubble is surrounded by a blue pixelated background, creating a digital effect.

Curious about what a ChatGPT response looks like? AI Prompt Example that shows prompts and ChatGPT-generated responses.

A laptop with a swirling vortex emerging from the screen, filled with colorful icons representing various media and ideas.

Can an AI make an interesting or beautiful image? Take a look at the AI Image Gallery.

AI in the Classroom

There are many ways to use generative AI in the classroom. These can vary based on the subject, course topic, and teaching style. We’ve outlined guidelines below that may be helpful as you incorporate generative AI in your courses.

Address AI Tools in Your Syllabus

It is important to communicate with students about the expectations around the usage of ChatGPT and other AI tools in your course. Clear policies should be articulated in your syllabi and course discussions.

Using AI Tools Responsibly

We’ve compiled popular AI tools, but new options emerge constantly. Keep in mind:

  • Many tools require paid subscriptions with varying terms on content ownership and use
  • Don’t enter sensitive information—these tools may not protect confidentiality
  • Review the University of Michigan Safe Computing guidelines for AI tool use

Strategies to Engage Students Beyond Recall

Effective teaching goes deeper than what AI tools can replicate. Use these approaches:

  • Active, experiential, and project-based learning
  • Writing as a process with multiple checkpoints (brainstorming, outlining, drafting, revision)
  • Authentic assessments that build critical and creative thinking
  • Transparent design principles
  • Collaborative learning opportunities, including social annotation and small group meetings
  • Mixed individual and group presentations
  • Multimedia elements: timelines, concept maps, videos, websites
  • Assignments that connect material to students’ lives, current events, and prior learning