Learning and Working with AI

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can help you explore ideas, revise text, generate code, search literature, create media, and build custom workflows that suit your specific needs. They’re powerful in their ability to suit your specific needs but can also produce incorrect information, exclude important context, expose sensitive information, and obscure how a result was produced.

Whether you’re just starting out or an advanced AI user, the Libraries can support your work with access to tools, learning resources, and expert advice. We can support your use of AI in learning, research, teaching, creative applications, and more.

Other ways the Libraries supports AI literacy and exploration

AI guidance

Specialty and advanced support with AI

Many of the Libraries staff have developed expertise in supporting AI understanding and use in different ways. Among other things, we are able to support you in:

  • Using AI for research
  • Using AI creatively or building AI applications
  • Developing, refining or training AI models
  • Accessing computing resources to run or build advanced AI tools
  • Teaching about AI
  • Understanding campus AI tools, policies, or data privacy

Contact us for help with AI

Selecting AI tools

The Libraries can help you use AI tools effectively and thoughtfully. We can help you choose AI tools, creatively apply and document your use of them, understand data privacy, and evaluate AI-generated outputs.

Before using an AI tool, ask these questions...

  • What am I trying to do?
    • AI can be useful for brainstorming, summarizing, coding, source browsing and discovery, image generation and more.
  • Is AI the best tool for this task?
    • AI is not suited for every job - consider alternative tools based on the task you’re trying to complete
    • Take your personal and professional values into account when determining the extent to which you do (or do not) use AI. There are real ethical considerations to make, including concerns about environmental impacts, academic integrity, biased training data, and more. If you choose to use AI, consider how you do so:
      • Choose tools with transparent training methods and clear data privacy policies
      • Explore open-source or local models
      • Make sure your use enhances, rather than replaces, your learning
  • What is the AI policy for your course or the assignment you are working on?
    • Refer to your syllabus or course assignment. If there's no policy, ask your instructor.
    • Refer to NC State University's AI for Students, which provides guidance for students regarding the responsible use of AI tools and solutions.
  • What information am I sharing?
  • How will I check the result?
    • AI outputs should be reviewed against reliable sources, assignment instructions, verified research methods, or known best practices
  • How will I document my use?
    • You may need to cite, disclose, or describe AI use for your own utility or for the requirements of an assignment or publication

If you decide to use an AI tool, make sure it’s on the NC State Approved AI Tools list. These are tools that OIT has already vetted for safety and privacy issues.

Some tools to experiment with

  • Gemini: a Large Language Model (LLM) from Google with an AI chatbot experience and media-making capabilities
  • Gemini Notebook: a Gemini-powered AI tool from Google that allows you to upload your own sources and generate audio podcasts, video summaries, and study materials based on those sources
  • Keenious: an AI-powered recommendation tool that connects users with Library materials on whatever topic they’re interested in

Looking for assistance on using these tools in your research? Request a research consultation and we’d be glad to help!