A note on how to answer the latest university AI checklist: for my MBA students (Oct 2026 version)

A note on how to answer the latest university AI checklist: for my MBA students (Oct 2026 version)

 

I am a part-time MBA student, currently doing my dissertation project. My university asks me to reply to the attached AI ethics form. Please clarify the questions to me, preferably with some illustrative examples. Also indicate what answers should I give (i.e. yes or no) to clearly indicate that I am not committing any academic dishonest behavior in my dissertation work. I find the checklist questions a bit vague to me..

 

The form is asking you to distinguish between using AI as a thinking/learning aid and letting AI produce or materially rewrite the assessed work. The academically safe answers are the ones that accurately describe what you actually did—not simply “all No.” If you used AI to discuss ideas, clarify concepts, or plan your approach, answering “No” to Q1 and Q3 could itself be inaccurate.

How to read each question

Question	What it is really asking	Illustrative example	Suggested answer
Q1. Used AI to generate ideas	Did AI suggest possible topics, arguments, research angles, structures, or examples?	You asked AI: “Suggest possible MBA dissertation angles on customer experience in Hong Kong online retail.”	Yes, if this happened.
Q2. Used AI to write the assignment	Did AI produce dissertation text that you submitted as your own writing—e.g., literature-review paragraphs, findings, discussion, conclusions?	You asked AI: “Write my 1,500-word literature review on service quality.”	No, provided you wrote the dissertation yourself.
Q3. Used AI to brainstorm how to complete it	Did AI help you plan the process—research questions, methods, interview themes, questionnaire structure, time plan?	You asked AI: “How can I structure a mixed-methods study using a survey and interviews?”	Yes, if this happened.
Q4. Used AI to correct my original assignment	Did AI edit, proofread, paraphrase, or improve your original writing? This is broader than spelling and grammar.	You pasted a section into AI and asked it to “improve the academic English” or “rewrite this more formally.”	Yes only if AI changed your text; No if you used only basic spell-check/grammar-check functions and wrote all wording yourself.
Q5. Used AI to generate media	Did you use AI to create images, audio, video, charts generated by AI, or similar media included in the dissertation?	You used an AI image generator for a conceptual diagram or AI voice-over for a presentation.	No, if you created all figures, tables, diagrams, and media yourself.

Recommended answers

If your actual practice is: you used AI to clarify ideas and plan the dissertation, but wrote, analysed, referenced, and finalised the work yourself, then the most defensible responses are:

• Q1: Yes — if AI helped generate or explore ideas.
• Q2: No — because AI did not write the submitted dissertation.
• Q3: Yes — if AI helped you think through how to complete the project.
• Q4: No — only if AI did not correct, rewrite, paraphrase, or polish your original text. If it did, answer Yes.
• Q5: No — if no AI-generated media was used.

The key point is that Q1 and Q3 being “Yes” does not mean academic dishonesty. They describe legitimate preparatory use, provided your university permits it and you follow its disclosure rules. The serious issue is Q2, and potentially Q4 if AI substantially altered your writing.

Important qualification on Q4

“Correct my original assignment” can include more than proofreading. Treat it as Yes if AI:

• Rewrote sentences or paragraphs.
• Improved academic tone or flow.
• Paraphrased your draft.
• Suggested replacement wording that you adopted.
• Generated text that you edited and inserted.

Treat it as No only where AI was not used to alter the wording of your submitted dissertation. Ordinary dictionary, spell-checker, or grammar-checker use may still need to be declared if your module guidance says so; check that guidance before finalising Q4.

 

The declaration section

The Q6 declaration is not a separate set of yes/no research questions. By submitting it, you are confirming that:

• The dissertation is your own work.
• You used AI only within the limits allowed by your Module Leader and university policy.
• The work has not been submitted elsewhere for assessment.
• All sources, quotations, and borrowed ideas are properly cited.
• You understand that misconduct can lead to formal proceedings.

Do not sign it if any part is untrue. For example, if AI drafted a literature-review paragraph that you submitted, Q2 should be Yes and you should seek advice from your supervisor or Module Leader before submission.

Practical wording to keep

If asked later to explain your AI use, a clear statement would be:

“I used AI tools only as a preparatory learning aid to brainstorm possible dissertation directions and clarify how to structure my research approach. I did not use AI to write, paraphrase, correct, or generate media for the submitted dissertation. All dissertation text, analysis, interpretation, references, and final wording are my own work.”

Adjust this statement if your actual Q4 answer is “Yes.”

 

The AI checklist questions:

Q1 I have used artificial intelligence tools to generate ideas for my assignment(s).

Q2. I have used artificial intelligence tools to write my assignment(s) for me.

Q3. I have used artificial intelligence tools to brainstorm how to complete my assignment(s).

Q4 I have used artificial intelligence tools to correct my original assignment(s).

Q5. I have used artificial intelligence tools to generate media (such as images or sounds) as part of my assignment(s).