What is GenAI?
Generative AI (GenAI) refers to technology that can create new content such as text, images, or code, based on user input. While the utilization of GenAI in education sparks numerous debates, its benefits and drawbacks in our classrooms are particularly noteworthy. The impact of GenAI varies greatly, depending on the subject and the students' learning goals. However, the discourse surrounding GenAI's role in education is vital, as educators strive to fully leverage its advantages while mitigating potential risks for their students.
Is Use of GenAI Supported at Berkeley?
There are a large variety of GenAI applications, some of which have been directly incorporated into and approved as part of existing tool licenses at UC Berkeley. Other GenAI applications are not available for use at Berkeley and should only be considered if instructors are willing to assume responsibility for concerns with accessibility, privacy, and security.
Instructors should remain open to giving students alternative options for completing an assignment if any GenAI tools are inaccessible to them in any way. Please consider working with the Disabled Students' Program (DSP) for ideas on how to explore accessible alternatives as needed.
Please review the UC Responsible AI Guidelines(link is external) which outlines the ethical use of AI.
How Does GenAI Affect Teaching and Learning at Berkeley?
GenAI may impact the work of teaching and learning in the following ways:
Opportunities and Challenges of Using GenAI
There are several advantages and disadvantages to using GenAI for learning and, ultimately, it will be up to individual departments and faculty to decide how they best see the potential and pitfalls of using it, in any forms, and other similar emerging tools in their courses. Please consider the UC Responsible AI Guidelines(link is external) which outlines the ethical use of AI. Review the following opportunities and challenges as well as additional curated resources.
Additional Information
RTL is participating on the newly formed Provost’s Advisory Council on Artificial Intelligence (PAC-AI)(link is external) which provides strategic advice and thought leadership on a broad range of AI issues, including matters that affect instruction and research.
RTL has also partnered with the UC Berkeley Library to form an internal community of practice to explore the innovations, use, and impact of artificial intelligence to support research and instruction. This community aims to democratize access to AI knowledge and facilitate learning about relevant tools and their applications in the library, classroom, and research settings which will then be reflected in our RTL resources for the campus community.
Our resources will be updated as use cases and engagement with GenAI technology continues to evolve.
Last updated: February 7, 2025