A note about appropriate AI usage : for MBA students

A note about appropriate AI usage : for MBA students (information from perplexity.ai)

My question: "With reference to the following AI usage checklist, please advise what should be the appropriate responses in terms of appropriate AI usage and avoidance of dishonest academic behavior:

STATEMENT ON USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TOOLS:

I have used artificial intelligence tools to generate an idea for my assignment:    YES/NO

I have used artificial intelligence tools to write my assignment for me:         YES/NO                

I have used artificial intelligence tools to brainstorm ideas for my assignment:    YES/NO

I have used artificial intelligence tools to correct my original assignment:          YES/NO"

The reply: "Appropriate responses depend on how you actually used AI and on your subject’s rules, but ethically you should follow two principles: be transparent (always answer truthfully) and avoid letting AI do the intellectual work that is supposed to be yours.

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Below is guidance on what each item usually means in terms of acceptable use vs dishonest behaviour, assuming your subject allows some AI use. When in doubt, always check your course/subject guide and ask the lecturer.

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1. “Generate an idea for my assignment”

This typically refers to using AI to help you find or refine a topic, angle, or research question.

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• Appropriate use (usually OK if AI is allowed):

  • Asking AI for possible topics, angles, or question formulations, then choosing and adapting one using your own judgment.
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  • Using AI to suggest ways to narrow or broaden a topic you already have.
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• Dishonest behaviour:

  • Claiming “NO” when AI in fact shaped your topic in a substantial way.
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How to answer

• If you used AI at any stage to suggest or refine topics/questions → answer YES.

• If you never used AI for topic/idea generation → answer NO.

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2. “Write my assignment for me”

This is the most sensitive line: it usually means AI produced sentences/paragraphs that you then submitted as if they were your own writing.

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• Appropriate use (usually not described as “writing my assignment”):

  • You wrote the full draft yourself and only used AI for minor language polishing (grammar, clarity) with you deciding what to keep or change.
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• Dishonest behaviour (often academic misconduct):

  • Asking AI to “write the essay/report” and then submitting most of that text with minimal or superficial edits.
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  • Copy–pasting AI‑generated sections (literature review, discussion, conclusion, etc.) without substantial rewriting and critical engagement.
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  • Using AI to fabricate data, analyses, or references.
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How to answer

• If AI produced substantial chunks of your final text (even if lightly edited) → ethically you must answer YES, and this may breach policy if such use is forbidden.
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• If AI did not generate the substantive content (arguments, structure, paragraphs), only helped with wording/grammar → you can usually answer NO, but still disclose under “correct my original assignment” if asked.
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3. “Brainstorm ideas for my assignment”

This usually covers back‑and‑forth exploration of arguments, structure, examples, or perspectives, beyond just picking a topic.

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• Appropriate use:

  • Asking AI for possible sections, arguments, counter‑arguments, or examples to consider, then deciding yourself which ones to adopt and how.
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  • Using AI to list possible theoretical lenses, variables, or case examples, which you then research properly in academic sources.
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• Dishonest behaviour:

  • Claiming “NO” when you heavily relied on AI’s suggested outline and content direction but hide that support.
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How to answer

• If you used AI for outlining, argument ideas, structure suggestions, or similar brainstorming → answer YES.

• If you only used AI for grammar fixes, references formatting, or not at all → answer NO.

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4. “Correct my original assignment”

This is about revising your draft using AI.

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• Appropriate use (commonly allowed, sometimes without needing citation, but check your policy):

  • Using AI like an advanced grammar/style checker to improve language, clarity, and coherence of text you originally wrote.
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  • Asking AI to point out unclear sections, then you rewrite them yourself.
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• Potentially dishonest or problematic:

  • Feeding in weak paragraphs and asking AI to “rewrite to make it more academic/sophisticated” and then largely accepting the new text as-is (this becomes “AI writing for you” rather than mere correction).
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  • Letting AI insert new content (arguments, evidence, theory) and treating that as simple “correction”.
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How to answer

• If you used AI for grammar, wording, flow, or to highlight problems in your own writing → answer YES (and make sure this level of assistance is permitted).
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• If you did not run your draft through AI at all → answer NO.

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5. Minimising risk of dishonest behaviour

To align with good practice and avoid academic misconduct:

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• Always answer the checklist truthfully, even if worried about penalties; lying on the form is itself misconduct.
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• Check your course/subject AI policy for:

  • Whether AI can be used at all.

  • Which purposes are allowed (brainstorming, language editing) vs forbidden (generating final text, doing analysis).
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• When you do use AI and it is allowed:

• Keep a note or screenshot of prompts and responses.
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• Provide a short statement (if permitted) explaining how AI was used (e.g. “Used Perplexity.ai to brainstorm possible research questions and to check grammar; all analysis and final wording are my own.”)."

An additional reference note