Use of artificial intelligence in assignment writing
- Published: March 22nd 2024. Updated: March 14th 2025.
This article has been translated from Norwegian using artificial intelligence.
VID aims to support students and staff in becoming AI-literate, both in terms of ethical and technical use of AI. When we talk about AI in this guide, we mean generative artificial intelligence, in the form of chat robots such as ChatGPT, Copilot, and Gemini. We must be critically reflective in relation to a sustainability perspective with increased water and energy needs, but also in relation to bias and power structures related to the use and development of AI.
In this guide, we will provide practical tips related to the use of AI in text work such as assignment writing and exams. Be aware that there are learning objectives or expected learning outcomes in the various subjects that govern how you can use AI. There may be different guidelines in different study programs and subjects, especially when writing bachelor's, master's, and PhD theses. Sometimes AI can give you discoveries or reflections, while other times it is precisely your own reflections and thoughts that are central to solving the work requirement and giving you learning. If you are in doubt about what applies in your subject, you can contact the subject coordinator.
In higher education, writing is a central pedagogical tool for learning. Our goal with this guide is not to replace writing with the use of AI, but to give students and staff knowledge about tools that can affect the writing process. The guide also provides concrete examples of how to refer in assignments where you can use AI, and it highlights which use of AI is considered cheating.
AI and cheating
There is a requirement that exam answers and other written submissions are independently produced text. It is not permitted to use AI to create content that you either wholly or partially submit as your own. AI can generate text that is not credible or verifiable. AI-generated text can therefore not be used to support academic claims or as sources in academic work. In VID's guidelines for handling cheating or attempted cheating, it states:
«The following may be cheating or attempted cheating if it is suitable to give an unfair advantage:
- answer where content is generated by writing robot / artificial intelligence, and presented as the student's own work
- answer that is based on false or incorrect data, or observations or facts that are fabricated and presented as true»
How to use AI in teaching and assessment activities?
Use secure AI
VID has entered into an agreement with the University of Oslo on the use of a secure AI chat robot called GPT UiO. Here you benefit from the advantages of AI while privacy and information security are safeguarded. Your conversations and data will also not be used for further training of AI models.
This also applies when using a VID-licensed user for Microsoft Copilot in the Microsoft Edge browser. Read more about Microsoft Copilot here. Always use a secure AI chat!
Use AI as a tool
Artificial intelligence can help you work more efficiently and provide input for both cognitive and creative work. Below you can see suggestions for some activities where AI can be a resource:
- AI can translate text.
- AI can explain concepts and create summaries.
- AI can initiate writing processes and provide ideas about topics.
- AI can criticize text and arguments.
- AI can improve text.
It is important that you are critically reflective of your instructions and the answers you receive from your chat robot. Read more about critical reflection regarding AI on our resource pages.
How to write the correct reference when using artificial intelligence
In assignments where you are asked to account for your use of AI, you can do so in this way. In kildekompasset, it is recommended according to APA7 style that you describe in the text how you have used AI, and possibly include what you wrote in and what you got out of the tool in the submission. Such descriptions can, for example, be included in the method chapter or in relevant sections. In the reference list, specify which type of artificial intelligence or tool you have used, including necessary information about the AI model, developer or supplier, and version number. If you are unsure how to do it, contact the subject coordinator.
1. You have used AI to get ideas or structure an assignment
When you have used AI to get ideas or structure an academic assignment, you should refer to it in the text and in the reference list. Explain in the text how you have used the AI tool and what kind of contribution it has made to the assignment.
A reference to GPT UiO that builds on the APA7 reference style can look like this:
In this assignment, I have used the language model GPT-3.5 Turbo (OpenAI, 2020) through GPT UiO (University of Oslo, 2023) to generate ideas and arguments for my text. I have used GPT UiO to suggest topics, issues and research questions for the assignment, and to find or formulate supporting or contradictory arguments for these.
In the reference list, the reference to GPT UiO will look like this:
OpenAI. (2020). UiO GPT (Version GPT-3.5 Turbo) [Large language model]. University of Oslo.
2. You have used AI for proofreading
With the use of AI for language proofreading, you can, for example, ask for help to find grammatical errors and improve sentence structure. All suggestions should be assessed and adapted to the context of the assignment. The final text and responsibility for the content always lies with you as a student.
Pay attention to the following:
- If you use AI to improve text, you must check the text yourself and assess whether it has actually improved and that the content of the text has not been changed. As a student, you are expected to deliver an independently produced text.
- Use secure AI chat to avoid sharing sensitive data or personal information.
A reference to GPT UiO that builds on the APA7 reference style can look like this:
In this assignment, I have used the language model GPT-3.5 Turbo (OpenAI, 2020) through GPT UiO (University of Oslo, 2023) to identify and correct grammatical errors and improve sentence structure. This tool was used to ensure linguistic clarity and correctness in the text (GPT UiO, 2023).
In the reference list, the reference to GPT UiO will look like this:
OpenAI. (2020). GPT UiO (Version GPT-3.5 Turbo) [Large language model]. University of Oslo. See more in Kildekompasset.