Responsible Use of AI
Making Informed Choices
AI is creating new opportunities for learning, creativity, and problem-solving. As AI becomes more common in education and the workplace, it is important to learn how to use these tools responsibly, ethically, and critically.
Responsible AI use is about more than knowing how to use AI tools. It means understanding when AI can support your learning, when you should rely on your own knowledge and judgement, and how to use AI in ways that are honest, fair and respectful of others. It also means thinking about issues such as accuracy, bias, privacy, copyright and academic integrity.
Responsible AI use is not about finding a single ‘right’ way to use AI. As AI technologies continue to evolve, we all need to keep learning, questioning, and adapting our approaches. By using AI thoughtfully and responsibly, you can take advantage of its benefits while developing the knowledge, skills, and judgement needed to succeed in an AI-enabled world.
To support the push for responsible AI integration in education, the Russell Group of universities has introduced a set of principles to ensure that students and staff have AI literacy, enabling them to effectively use technological advancements in their academic journey. These principles build upon the foundation of ethical AI integration, emphasising the responsible use of generative AI and technology, such as ChatGPT. Endorsed by Vice Chancellors from 24 Russell Group Universities, these principles highlight the critical importance of fostering AI literacy, training staff to guide students in using AI tools, integrating ethical AI use in teaching, upholding academic integrity, and promoting the collaborative sharing of best practices. This effort coincides with the UK Government’s ongoing assessment of generative AI in education.
Throughout academic year 2026-27, it is important to remember that responsible AI use is not solely a technological issue. Rather, it is about shaping a future where innovation aligns with our human values.
AI, Ethics and Society
As AI becomes more integrated into our lives, it is important to think about its impact beyond the technology itself. AI has the potential to transform how we learn, work, communicate, and make decisions, but it also raises important questions about fairness, transparency, privacy, security, and trust.
The decisions made by AI systems can influence people and communities in different ways. This is why it is important to consider how AI is designed, developed, and used, and to recognise that AI is not always neutral or free from bias.
In education, AI offers opportunities to enhance learning, improve access to support, and create new ways of engaging with knowledge. At the same time, it encourages us to think carefully about issues such as equity, digital skills, data privacy, and the role of human judgement in learning.
Understanding these wider implications can help you become a more informed user of AI and an active participant in shaping how AI is used in society. As the technology continues to evolve, thoughtful and responsible engagement will be essential to ensuring that AI is developed and used in ways that benefit individuals, communities, and society as a whole.
The following sections explore five key ethical and societal considerations to keep in mind when using AI:
AI systems learn from large amounts of existing data. As a result, they can sometimes reflect or reinforce biases that exist in society. This may influence the information, recommendations, or perspectives that AI tools provide.
When using AI, it is important to think critically about whose voices and perspectives are represented, whether outputs are inclusive, and whether important viewpoints may be missing. Being aware of potential bias can help you evaluate AI-generated content more effectively.
AI tools often rely on information entered by users. Before sharing information with an AI tool, consider whether it contains personal, sensitive, confidential, or copyrighted material.
Protecting your own privacy and respecting the privacy of others are important aspects of responsible AI use. Always follow University guidance when using AI tools and be mindful of the information you choose to share.
AI can support learning and decision-making, but it should not replace human judgement.
Being transparent about your use of AI helps to build trust and supports responsible practice. Where appropriate, you may need to acknowledge your use of AI or explain how it contributed to your work.
Remember that you remain responsible for the work you submit and the decisions you make, even when AI has been used to support the process.
AI can be a valuable tool for learning, but it should be used in ways that support rather than undermine your education.
Always follow the guidance provided by your School, programme, or module regarding AI use in assessments. Use AI to support understanding, idea generation, planning, and feedback, while ensuring that your work reflects your own learning, skills, and critical thinking.
AI technologies require significant computing power and resources to operate. As AI becomes more widely used, questions about energy consumption, resource use, and environmental sustainability are becoming increasingly important.
At the same time, AI is also being used to support environmental research, improve efficiency, and address sustainability challenges.
Understanding both the opportunities and environmental impacts of AI can help you become a more informed and responsible user of these technologies.
Want to learn more?
Explore our page on AI and Environmental Impact to discover how AI can both support and challenge environmental sustainability.