About the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (ChatGPT, etc.)
Fri, Apr 21, 2023-
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To all students, faculty and staff
April 21, 2023
Waseda University
Senior Executive Vice President (Academic Affairs/Provost)
Koichi Suga
About the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (ChatGPT, etc.)
Intellectual resilience and flexible sensitivity
Waseda University has been asking students to train themselves to develop “intellectual
resilience” so that they can think thoroughly about problems with no correct answer and come
up with their own answers, and to foster “flexible sensitivity” that allows them to work together
with a variety of people of different races, nationalities, religions, ethnic groups, languages,
genders, and sexual orientations in order to solve various problems with respect and sympathy
for one another. In today’s world, where we face major issues such as pandemics, wars, and
progressing technological innovation, which can be said to be turning points in society, the
importance of “intellectual resilience” and “flexible sensitivity” is increasing.
For example, the development of new technology will change the way we live, work, and the
state of society. It’s an unavoidable reality that scientific progress and technological
innovation will always have positive and negative sides, advantages and disadvantages. It
depends on how humans use technology, and on national policies and institutions that
promote or regulate these technological innovations. For those of you who aim to strengthen
your “intellectual resilience”, nurture your “flexible sensitivity”, and contribute to society,
realizing the correct use of new technology is an extremely important issue. It will also be an
important task to conduct research on measures to mitigate the social impact and disseminate
the results, with a “flexible sensitivity” that sympathizes with those who are negatively affected
by new technology.
Fundamental Attitudes towards Generative AI
Generative artificial intelligence (hereinafter referred to as generative AI) such as ChatGPT
(OpenAI), Bard (Google), and Bing (Microsoft), which have become a hot topic in recent
years, are advancing their performance at an accelerated pace. It has been pointed out that
(OpenAI), Bard (Google), and Bing (Microsoft), which have become a hot topic in recent
years, are advancing their performance at an accelerated pace. It has been pointed out that
they have the potential to bring about major changes in our society. For this reason, interactive
automated response services based on generative AI are not only tested around the world but
also discussed at educational institutions as to how they should be utilized and regulated.
automated response services based on generative AI are not only tested around the world but
also discussed at educational institutions as to how they should be utilized and regulated.
Those who advocate “intellectual resilience” need to be familiar with the correct usage of
generative AI. To that end, we must have sufficient knowledge of generative AI and cultivate
an attitude of keeping pace with technological progress and continuing to innovate our
knowledge. Because then you can masterfully use the technology instead of being the one
used by it.
generative AI. To that end, we must have sufficient knowledge of generative AI and cultivate
an attitude of keeping pace with technological progress and continuing to innovate our
knowledge. Because then you can masterfully use the technology instead of being the one
used by it.
In addition, it is imperative to have an accurate understanding of the impact that generative
AI will have on society and people, and the issues that arise around the formation process,
when we consider the issues of whether to stop the development or regulate the use of
generative AI, all of which are in the midst of debate. This is because in the development of
new technologies and the production of products and services based on them, a great impact
on various people is observed not only after development and production but also before.
Characteristics of Generative AI
Generative AI learns by itself based on the vast amount of data on the Internet, and can
instantly generate response sentences in a natural language dialogue format for various
questions and requests in a wide range of fields. Also, even if you ask the same question, the
answer (sentence) that is returned will change each time. The following tasks that were
previously performed by humans can now be handled by generative AI.
instantly generate response sentences in a natural language dialogue format for various
questions and requests in a wide range of fields. Also, even if you ask the same question, the
answer (sentence) that is returned will change each time. The following tasks that were
previously performed by humans can now be handled by generative AI.
(1) Generation of new sentences based on given strings and keywords (creation of reports,
impressions, etc.)
(2) Generating answers for tests (fill–in–the–blank questions, multiple–choice questions,
open–ended questions, etc.)
(3) Brainstorming, creation of ideas
(4) Summarization, translation and proofreading of existing texts and web pages
(5) Data analysis
(6) Easy programming
(7) Lyrics, composition
(8) Searching for documents and information
If you can use generative AI with these functions well, you will be able to save a lot of your
work time, and many people will get the benefit of being able to concentrate on other
important tasks.
work time, and many people will get the benefit of being able to concentrate on other
important tasks.
On the other hand, the following flaws and difficulties have also been pointed out. There are
many things that students need to be careful about.
First, generative AI does not always output accurate information. Currently, for example,
there are quite a few cases where answers are generated using non–existent universities or
companies, incorrect numerical data, or wrong names. It has also been observed often to
fabricate bibliographies of titles and author names that do not exist.
Second, it has been pointed out that reports generated by generative AI are (currently)
logically correct as text, but the content is shallow and there is a tendency for a repetition of
plausible and obvious things. If you use the results of the generative AI without examining the
content, the report will be lacking in originality.
Third, if you submit the thesis created by the generative AI without carefully examining it,
the thesis will be evaluated as it is, even if there are incompleteness or fatal errors in the
content. You may also be subject to disciplinary action if plagiarism, inappropriate citation,
or fabrication is confirmed in the submitted thesis, even if you did not intend to do so. Of
course, if you submit a thesis created by the generative AI as it is, it will be punished as a
fraudulent act similar to cheating.
Fourth, careless use of generative AI may lead to the leakage of confidential information
within the university or company, and questions that include your name, etc. may lead to the
leakage of personal information. It has also been pointed out that the disorderly use of
generative AI can lead to discrimination, human rights violations, and criminal behavior.
Freedom of action must be guaranteed for technological progress, but no one has the freedom
to infringe on human rights. “Intellectual resilience” must also pay attention to the tension
between technology and society.
Usage and Limitations of Generative AI
Surely you might be able to complete a report quickly with generative AI, but you’re giving up
the opportunity to improve your abilities. Reports are created by gathering a large amount of
the opportunity to improve your abilities. Reports are created by gathering a large amount of
information from documents and materials, classifying, analyzing, and summarizing them to
create the most appropriate answer to the task. Writing a report is the most important exercise
in developing “intellectual resilience”. As a result of neglecting this task and prioritizing
short–term profits, in serious situations such as entrance exams and work in the real world,
you will notice the fact that you have learned nothing.
create the most appropriate answer to the task. Writing a report is the most important exercise
in developing “intellectual resilience”. As a result of neglecting this task and prioritizing
short–term profits, in serious situations such as entrance exams and work in the real world,
you will notice the fact that you have learned nothing.
On the other hand, for those working as business creators who envision unprecedented
products and services, the use of generative AI will lead to the realization of effective work. In
the process of collecting, classifying, summarizing, and analyzing vast amounts of information
about similar past cases to generate new ideas, the partial use of generative AI could save time,
and you could spend more of your time generating important new ideas. This effective use
assumes that you know firsthand how much work is needed and what quality is required at
each stage in the process of making a report. That way, you can easily determine the merits
of substituting that part with generative AI, as well as discrepancies and mistakes in the
responses shown by AI, and you can use it in a suitable manner. It is important to train your
“intellectual resilience” daily so that you can use generative AI appropriately according to the
time and situation.
In addition, there are reservations about generative AI in terms of “flexible sensitivity”. To be
able to work together to solve social problems while respecting the diverse attributes and
backgrounds of various people, it is necessary to build mutual trust. It requires both mutual
understanding and sympathy. A certain kind of expression is also required in exchange of
messages, but it seems difficult for generative AI to appropriately provide expressions that
show fine–grained correspondence and persuasive power.
Future Action
You will continue to utilize a variety of products and services developed based on new
technologies. Before using them, or while using them, you should repeatedly think about
whether they are necessary for you, whether they are beneficial to you, and what kind of
impact they have on society. What is beneficial to you now may only have a negative effect on
your future self. Some people get more benefits than disadvantages, others do not. Think
objectively and with an altruistic spirit. Waseda University’s students, faculty, and staff, as
well as all concerned parties, should not forget this way of thinking.
“Intellectual resilience” applies to all matters in the world. To fully understand the multi–
faceted impact of new technologies, how to curb the negative aspects, and to further expand
the positive aspects, we (not only individuals, but also governments, industries, communities,
etc.) must think carefully about what we should do.
the positive aspects, we (not only individuals, but also governments, industries, communities,
etc.) must think carefully about what we should do.
