Why should i stop using free AI for my academic research.

Mwl.RCT

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Using free AI tools like “copilot.microsoft.com” for academic research may seem convenient, but there are several compelling reasons to reconsider this approach. Here are some key points to consider:
  1. Quality of Information: Free AI tools often rely on algorithms that aggregate information from various sources, which may not always be credible or accurate. Academic research requires high-quality, peer-reviewed sources that have undergone rigorous scrutiny. Relying on AI-generated content can lead to the inclusion of misinformation or unverified claims in your work.
  2. Lack of Contextual Understanding: While AI can process and generate text based on patterns in data, it lacks the deep contextual understanding that human researchers possess. This can result in misinterpretations of complex topics or failure to grasp nuanced arguments, leading to superficial analyses in your research.
  3. Plagiarism Concerns: Using AI-generated content without proper attribution can raise ethical issues related to plagiarism. Academic integrity is paramount, and relying on AI tools may inadvertently lead you to present ideas as your own without appropriate citation.
  4. Limited Scope of Research: Free AI tools may not provide access to specialized databases or comprehensive academic literature necessary for thorough research. They might also lack the ability to filter results effectively based on specific academic criteria, limiting the depth and breadth of your findings.
  5. Dependence on Technology: Over-reliance on AI tools can hinder the development of critical thinking and research skills essential for academic success. Engaging deeply with primary sources and scholarly literature fosters analytical abilities and a deeper understanding of the subject matter.
In summary, while free AI tools like “copilot.microsoft.com” can assist with certain tasks, they should not replace traditional methods of academic research that prioritize quality, integrity, and depth of understanding.
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Credible References​

  1. Booth, Wayne C., Gregory G. Colomb, and Joseph M. Williams. The Craft of Research. University of Chicago Press, 2016. (Print)
  2. Graff, Gerald, and Cathy Birkenstein. They Say / I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing. W.W. Norton & Company, 2018. (Print)
  3. McNicol, Sarah J., et al., “The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Academic Research.” Journal of Scholarly Publishing, vol. 51 no. 3 (2020): 215-230. (Web)
  4. Murray, Rowena. How to Write a Thesis. Open University Press, 2011. (Print)
  5. Pritchard, Alan G., “Academic Integrity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.” International Journal for Educational Integrity, vol 15 no 1 (2019): 1-12. (Web)
 
You're both Right and Wrong.

It depends on How & Why you use AI.

AI is the future, whether we like it or not.

This is depends on how good you are at using AI, use prompts that forces your AI to find knowledge from credible sources, and you should always cross-check the information and read it carefully before proceeding.
Perplexity and Chatgpt 4 are among the best in this field, they give accurate explanations if you redirect it to credible sources.

Nothing can explain something in summary and in a well understandable manner than an AI called Chatgpt 4.0
I again urge you to use good prompts, AI explains and interprets something depending on your request/command.
For example, you can feed it or upload a pdf book about "capitalism" and command it to explain in summary, a certain page or topic and it will do it, it will explain it from the source you gave it, so normalise feeding your AI with articles/Ebooks relating to your work.
I'm saying this again, it all depends on How you use AI.

AI can help you cite.
You can command it to write the references it used to get the specific knowledge you asked about, and AI will do it, you can also command it to write the references (cite) in any style you want e.g Vancouver/Havard.
Again, it all depends on How you use it.
Another point is that AI has algorithms which can be detected by Plagiarism detects, the trick part here is to "Humanize" your work or you can use another AI that "Humanizes" your work and make it look like it was written by a human and not a robot.

I have used AI on my previous research and I haven't faced this problem, why?? Because I'm hugely involved in the process, you should always use AI as an assistant, but not as the main manager of you work.
AI is the best tool when doing researchs, it minimizes your work load to very great extent, and let's you focus on collecting data and other stuffs.

Subjectively I would say NO, depending on something that is the future of mankind isn't bad as you may think.
So we should not build auto-drive cars just because people would not go to driving school Or people will forget how to drive??

You only talked about copilot, what about Chatgpt, Perplexity, Claude, Grammarly, Gemini, Canvas???

I think AI are great tools to use when learning or doing your research, just make sure you're massively involved in your work, cross-check your work, read word to word and line to line before submitting/upload your work.
 
Satirical Yet Awesome said:
AI is the future, whether we like it or not.
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Satirical Yet Awesome said:
Perplexity and Chatgpt 4 are among the best in this field, they give accurate explanations if you redirect it to credible sources.
Click to expand...
- Kuna utafiti ninafanya.

- Na moja ya criteria ni kupata "latest" and "Factual Data/statistics".

- Kwa kuzingatia "latest" and "factual" data imenilazimu kutafuta na kutumiaAI zote ambazo zina access na inrenet ili kupata lates data.

- Umetaja "Perplexity and Chatgpt 4" kuwa ndio AI bora ila nakuhakikishia kuwa zote zimefeli mtihani au kifezo cha awali, nimeziuliza swali la mtego na hakuna AI iliyoweza kujibu. Na kwenye jaribio langu nimetumia hizi Ai ulizotaja pia.

-
Satirical Yet Awesome said:
Nothing can explain something in summary and in a well understandable manner than an AI called Chatgpt 4.0
Click to expand...
- Nakupa sample ya swali uliza AI yeyote, kisha weka jibu hapa. Na nitakuonesha kuwa hilo jibu sio sahihi au sio sahihi. Yaani usipokuwa makini na kujua kile unachotaka AI inaweza kukupa jibu la uongo ila linapambwa kana kama ni jibu la kweli.

- Swali la mfano ambalo AI zoe unazozifahamu zimeshindwa kujibu kiusahihi ni hili
"Describe each of the following mango cultivars: 'Alphonso", "Carrie", "Lemon Cream", "Kent""
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- Tumia AI tafuta majibu na lete hapa mrejesho.
- Nakuelewa sana hoja yako. Ila tambua mimi ni mmoja kati ya Power user wa hizi Ai. Na imefikia mahala Input text ya prompts zangu huwa na token nyingi kiasi kwamba AI zote zinafail , Isipokuwa Gemin Ai Pro wao wanakupa hadi 2,000,000 token kwa prompt moja, Ndio nimekuwa nikitumia. Ila tatizo hawana live access ya internet. Hivyo nikihitaji AI iwe na access ya internet na hamia Perplex AI au Copilot.
 
Umetoa maelezo mengi ila hayajazingatia hoja ya msingi. Kama ni mtihani, na mimi kama mwalimu ninakuandikia ZERO. Na AI nazo hutoa maelzo mazuri kama haya, ila huwa hayana usahihi (wakati mwingine).

Swali hili hapa weka katika AI unayo amini itakupa majibu sahihi: "Describe each of the following mango cultivars: 'Alphonso", "Carrie", "Lemon Cream", "Kent""
 
Nilikuwa kwenye Emirates Naelekea Munich wanazile podcast zao... Badala ya kuangalia movie nilikuwa nasikiliza kina moja ili conclude na msg nzito
"Ignore AI you are going to be left behind
A country must make a future plan about AI"
 
Even free AI is good kwa research if you use prompt sahii,..mfano mimi huwa naandika hivi

when I give you an image, text, or any other input, I want you to follow these steps

Identify the main topics and context of what I've given you.
Include an introduction, detailed findings with evidence


Use a detailed search for information on the identified topics.
And make sure that the information you retrieve is from peer-reviewed sources and reputable references.

Try to Summarize key points, analyze findings, and discuss implications.
 
Hii prompt yako iko vyema, ila kama ningekuwa naitumia mimi structure flow yake ingekuwa hivi.
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Nimekuboreshea prompt yako. Enjoy!
 
Vichekesho said:
"Kikazi mkubwa wewe" yaani umetumia AI kudiss AI.
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Nani huyo?. Kama ni mimi ukweli ni kuwa nimeibua mjadala na yapaswa tunufaike nao., Na ndio sababu ya kuweka hii idea kama ilivyo post no.1
Karibu kwenye mjadala.

BTW tusitoke nje ya hoja ya msingi na tuukubali ukweli kuwa "licha ya AI kuwa na msaada mkubwa, tunapaswa kujua mbivu na mbichi" za AI, Udhaifu wake n.k hapo utakuwa upande salama.
 
Doesn’t add up why would you need AI to conduct a research.

Especially if you feed it with the wrong information, there isn’t a ‘lemon creamy’ mango variety. Rather there is a ‘Lemon Zesty’ variety which is creamy.

But that’s beside the point, how on earth can you produce a piece academic writing which depends on other primary researched to justify point if you don’t know where to find credible source.

We live in times where universities have access to vast sources which they pay for, you don’t have to.

Unless that information is held by marketing consultants firms whereby you have to pay to access full reports or other private studies conducted private institutions.

But then where is the fun of learning if AI does the research work for you, where does your original idea lie on the topic if you dint do the research.

Doesn’t add up
 
Mayor Quimby said:
Especially if you feed it with the wrong information,
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Uko sahihi, AI (or computers) hufanya kazi kwa kutumia ile kanunu ya msingi
- Trash in = Trash out
Mayor Quimby said:
there isn’t a ‘lemon creamy’ mango variety.
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- Yap, ni sahihi. Ambacho nilitaka watumia AI wajifunze ni hiki.
Ondoa neno mfano "lemon" kisha weka neno lolote lile hata la kubuni mfano "NJIWAMWIU" , HIVYO SWALI LITAKUWA HIVI.

"Describe each of the following mango cultivars: 'Alphonso", "Carrie", "NJIWAMWIU Cream", "Kent""

Somo: Tuwe na tahadhari kwenye taarifa tunazopokea kutokana na matumizi ya AI.
 
Thanks @Mwl.RTC for this beautiful discussion, Allow me to contribute a few additional points to this discussion.

Whether we embrace it or not, artificial intelligence possesses both positive and negative aspects. At times, artificial intelligence can provide accurate but not reliable information, particularly when it comes to citations, and at other times, it can provide completely false information. The key is to read carefully and verify information from credible sources such as journals and magazines.

Those who use AI to write academic research can attest that it does not provide accurate in-text citations. If you're not careful, it may even provide citations from future years such as 2026 or 2027. The important thing is that in this AI-driven world, we should use it in ways that help us progress and develop.
 
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