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Artificial Intelligence (AI) Guide

Generative AI - Issues, Benefits, Reliability and Authority - ROBOT Test

Being "AI literate" does not mean you need to understand the advanced mechanics of AI. It means that you are actively learning about the technologies involved and that you critically approach any texts you read that concern AI, especially news articles.

Sandy Hervieux and Amanda Wheatly, McGill Library, have created the ROBOT tool to use when reading about AI applications to help consider the legitimacy of the technology.

Note: This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Reliability

  • How reliable is the information available about the AI technology?
  • If it’s not produced by the party responsible for the AI, what are the author’s credentials? Bias?
  • If it is produced by the party responsible for the AI, how much information are they making available?
  • Is information only partially available due to trade secrets?
  • How biased is they information that they produce?

Objective

  • What is the goal or objective of the use of AI?
  • What is the goal of sharing information about it?
  • To inform?
  • To convince?
  • To find financial support?

Bias

  • What could create bias in the AI technology?
  • Are there ethical issues associated with this?
  • Are bias or ethical issues acknowledged?
    • By the source of information?
    • By the party responsible for the AI?
    • By its users?

Ownership

  • Who is the owner or developer of the AI technology?
  • Who is responsible for it?
  • Is it a private company?
  • The government?
  • A think tank or research group?
  • Who has access to it?
  • Who can use it?

Type

  • Which subtype of AI is it?
  • Is the technology theoretical or applied?
  • What kind of information system does it rely on?
  • Does it rely on human intervention?

Disclaimer

The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Guide provides an introduction to this evolving field for faculty, fellows, residents, postdocs, students, and staff. Due to the rapid advancement of this emerging technology, information in the Guide may become outdated at times. 

For information on Artificial Intelligence (AI) Data Security and Privacy, see Artificial Intelligence (AI) Data Security and Privacy - Information Resources (utsouthwestern.net), VPN/On Campus access only.  NOTE:  this Guide supplements but does not supersede information provided by UT Southwestern or University of Texas policies and guidelines.