AI tools could be helpful when you need to generate ideas and possibilities for your projects.
Conversational AI models enable you to simply describe what you need ideas for, and they can provide you with an array of creative options to consider. This is much more dynamic and personalised than simply doing a broad Google search.
AI gives you an easy way to start brainstorming and explore directions you may not have initially thought of, in the same way as brainstorming with a friend.
It serves as a useful ideation and possibility-generation tool that allows you to describe what you want and then gives you lots of ideas to choose from, narrow down, and select the best ones to pursue.
The ideas still require your judgment, but AI can accelerate inspiration.
Disclaimer: Always follow your Department's policy for use of AI at any point in relation to marked assessments. See our 'Referencing AI' page for guidance.
When trying to come up with a focus for your next paper or project, it can be hard to settle on just one good idea. This is where leveraging AI could help open up more possibilities.
Describe the general area you want to concentrate on and AI can propose multiple related topics or angles worth exploring further. From there, it is your job to review the suggestions and narrow down to the assessment direction that most interests you and fits the assignment guidelines.
See example using Claude.ai:
Give it a try to discover a range of ideas you maybe wouldn't have thought of on your own. The AI won't and should not complete the assessment for you, but it can definitely jumpstart your progress.
Disclaimer: Always follow your Department's policy for use of AI at any point in relation to marked assessments. See our 'Referencing AI' page for guidance.
Structuring an effective written paper or oral presentation requires not just solid research and content but also thoughtful organisation so your key points and narrative flow logically.
Determining optimal word counts for each section of an essay or how much time to dedicate to different elements in a presentation can be frustrating to figure out.
But AI could lend some guidance early-on for how to best structure your assessment, if well prompted.
After entering details on the total length limitations and any other known requirements from your instructor as constraints, describe to the AI your planned topic, main positions to cover, areas still needing research, and it should be able to produce potential high-level organisation suggestions on how you may want to proportion out word counts or speaking time.
For example, the AI may recommend rough page counts or minutes per key section.
See simple example using ChatGPT 3.5
You must examine the structures proposed by the AI while considering your priorities and goals then select and adapt the best option that allows sufficient space to articulate your message and arguments with proper support.
Use its idea generation on organisation to build out a custom frame to then fill with your own carefully selected evidence and analysis.
The end result is the potential for an assessment calibrated to not only meet assignment directives, but to communicate your knowledge in a deliberate and logical manner within those key limitations.
Disclaimer: Always follow your Department's policy for use of AI at any point in relation to marked assessments. See our 'Referencing AI' page for guidance.
After deciding on a clear direction for your essay, you could try describing to an AI platform, in a sentence or two, what you will be discussing. Input any key terms or positions involved as well. The AI should then provide potential title ideas encapsulating your topic from different perspectives. The results may even inspire you to focus on an additional angle for your research.
You should look over the options considering your audience and goals. You will likely need to see if some combination and tweaking of the suggestions can get you to that ideal, attention-grabbing title that accurately represents your work.
Example using Claude.ai:
AI has the potential to suggest good starting points for beginning your research on a topic, so long as you use effective/ethical prompts and ensure you evaluate all outputs before continuing your own research journey,
AI text generators, particularly those linked to search engines such as Bing Chat or the upcoming Scopus AI are able to help with searches, as unlike typical search engines that find results based on the number of times your search words appear in a text, Conversational AI can typically understand what you are looking for based on context and find related content.
See Bing Chat example (Note how it links to its sources):
Avoid using ChatGPT or other similar text generators when searching for specific sources, as without access to the internet, generators are likely to create false references or sources which you can waste your time searching for.
You should always ask the system to provide specifics on any named authors, studies, or publications referenced and verify credibility on your own before integrating any outside opinions or data into an academic paper.
Always remember that AI is meant to spur ideas to aid your process, not be the process.
AI can help generate new possibilities to consider for events and social activities or outings.
For example, a student executive of a society could easily use AI to suggest ideas for fundraiser events, while another student trying to find exciting ideas for a day out with friends can let AI create a list of fun and feasible activities to choose from.
Simply describe parameters like overall goals, expected budget, locations accessible, and any key interests among members that might guide options. In seconds, the AI can provide numerous targeted suggestions drawing from a diverse range of potential social activities.
Example using Bing Chat:
AI can offer some personalised recommendations for entertainment media. Many streaming sites already use algorithms to suggest movies and shows based on your viewing history. But you can get tailored ideas just by talking to an AI assistant.
Simply tell the AI about a movie genre, TV series, band, or game you already like. In seconds it can generate a list of similar titles across media that you may enjoy too.
The AI takes what you feed it and finds more of the same flavour. So if you're obsessed with sci-fi thrillers, it'll serve up the top new mind-bending releases to consider. Or if you can't get enough indie folk music, ask for recommendations of new artists akin to your current favourites.
Example using Claude.ai
With endless entertainment options available, getting ideas filtered to your tastes makes settling on one easier. Utilising AI in this way allows you spend less time searching and more time enjoying personalised recommendations.
Give it a go!
Using Claude, experiment with using AI as a tool for idea generation.
Try one of these prompts:
'Give three potential structures for an undergraduate university essay with 3000 words'
'Create a list of title options for an essay on (insert recently studied topic)'
'4 friends wanting to go away for a long weekend. Budget for each student is £300 max. Suggest options.'
'Brainstorm ideas for topics to present on the book Mrs Dalloway'
'List non-horror Halloween/Autumn movies'
Remember to ask follow on questions!