Request Information
Ready to find out what MSU Denver can do for you? We’ve got you covered.
Have Questions? We have answers.
Contact UsCan I use AI for this?
Before you use AI
Answer a few questions about what you are trying to do. We’ll help you think through whether AI makes sense here.
This is a guide, not permission. Your instructor’s directions are the final word for your course and assignments.
Don’t share private information: Don’t paste confidential, protected or other people’s personal information into an AI tool.
Are you working on something you’ll turn in or be graded on?
What does your instructor say about using AI for this?
What are you asking AI to do?
What part are you asking AI to do?
What are you going to do with the answer?
Can you check that what AI gives you is actually right?
Could you do something like this again without AI?
You can probably use AI for this.
Using AI to explain something, quiz you, give you practice or help you explore an idea can be a useful way to learn.
Why this answer: You’re using AI to help you do the learning instead of asking it to do the learning for you.
Getting the answer can help you get unstuck.
The important part is what you do next. Don’t stop at the answer.
Useful habit: If AI gives you an answer, ask it to explain how it got there. Ask follow-up questions about anything you do not understand. Then ask for a similar problem and see if you can work through it on your own.
Figure out what you want AI to help you do.
Are you trying to understand something, practice, get feedback, or have AI do part of the work for you?
Useful habit: You can talk it through with AI. Explain what you are working on, what you already understand and where you are stuck. Ask it to help you identify what you still need to learn rather than asking it to do the work for you.
This one is pretty clear: don’t use AI this way.
If your instructor says AI is not allowed for this assignment, that settles it.
Why this answer: Your instructor sets the AI rules for their course and assignments.
Ask your instructor before you use AI.
Tell them specifically what you want to use AI for and ask whether that use is OK.
Why this answer: When graded work is involved, no AI instructions does not automatically mean AI is allowed.
This doesn’t seem like a good use of AI.
Unless your instructor has clearly said otherwise, don’t use AI to produce the specific thinking or work the assignment is asking you to demonstrate.
Why this answer: AI would be doing the capability your instructor is trying to assess.
Don’t use the answer as your own work.
Getting help when you are stuck is different from having AI produce the work you submit.
Why this answer: If AI provides the work your instructor is asking you to demonstrate, it is replacing the learning or ability being assessed.
Using an answer to get unstuck can be useful.
Just don’t let the answer be the end of the process.
Useful habit: Ask AI to explain how it got the answer. Ask follow-up questions about anything you do not understand. Then ask it for a similar problem and see if you can work through that one on your own.
Before you use AI, get a little more clarity.
Ask your instructor what kinds of help are allowed. Be specific about what you want the tool to do.
Why this answer: “AI is allowed” can still leave limits around how much of the actual assignment AI can produce.
You can probably use AI for this.
Your instructor allows AI, you’re using it to support your work rather than replace it, you can check what it gives you and you are still building the skill yourself.
Before you submit: Verify the output and follow your instructor’s directions for disclosing or citing your AI use.
Why this answer: You’re still responsible for the thinking, the accuracy and the work you submit.
AI can still help, but use it in a way that moves you toward doing more on your own.
Ask for explanations, examples, feedback or practice instead of having AI take over the part you are still learning.
Useful habit: After AI helps you, try the next step or a similar problem yourself before asking for more help.
AI may be doing too much of the work right now.
Try using it for explanation, questions, feedback or practice instead of having it produce the result for you.
Why this answer: The goal is for AI to help you build the skill, not become something you need in order to use it.
Verify it before you submit it.
Check facts, sources, quotes, names, dates, statistics, formulas and anything else AI gave you.
Why this answer: AI can sound completely confident when it is wrong, and you are responsible for what you submit.
Don’t rely on AI output you can’t check.
Find another way to complete this part of the work, or get help from your instructor or another reliable source.
Why this answer: If you can’t tell whether the output is right, you can’t responsibly stand behind it.
Your instructor still has the final say. This tool is meant to help you think through a situation, not give you permission to use AI.
This tool needs JavaScript to walk you through the questions. You can still read the full MSU Denver student AI guidance.