Student Guide

Using AI in your studies: tools, tips and best practices

Knowing how to use artificial intelligence has quickly become a basic must-know skill. While it is no substitute for learning, AI can help you to get a handle on large learning tasks and perform them more efficiently. Begin using artificial intelligence with small steps: try it out, learn with it, and find out how to use it responsibly.

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AI: What is it really?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is an umbrella term for data-analysing systems that can generate forecasts, recommendations and decisions that are all based on probabilities. Its operations are not restricted by any set mechanical rules, and so AI is able to ‘learn’ and apply its learning. Remember, however, that AI does err at times.

Everyday examples of AI use: In spam filters, journey planning software, or systems that create sales forecasts based on previous sales-related data.

Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is a type of AI that specialises in creating new content (text, images, computer code, etc). It generates responses based on probability calculations. GenAI always aims to furnish a slick answer, but therein lies the danger of ‘hallucinations’, or its tendency to simply makes up content in order to give an answer and sound convincing. Therefore, the results obtained from AI must always be critically evaluated.

Everyday examples: Using Microsoft Copilot or ChatGPT to summarise long documents, draft emails or translate languages.

AI agents to a certain degree, can act autonomously. While GenAI only gives answers to the questions that are asked, AI agents are able to perform more goal-oriented behaviour, breaking down a large assignment into stages and employing various tools (like browsers or other software) to get the individual tasks done.

Everyday examples: An AI agent may be given the following assignment: ‘Find three different grocery stores and compare the price per kilo of apples. Make a table showing the price comparisons at the different stores and send a summary of it to me by email.' The AI agent performs the various steps needed for the assignment without further human assistance.

We encourage Aalto students to experiment with and learn to use AI in their studies. Use AI in the way most helpful to your situation. Before beginning, however, think about the tools you are using and what information can and may be entered into them.

Try the university's own AI, Aalto AI Assistant, and read your course guidelines regarding how it may be used.
For practice: Ask AI to give you exercises, problems or multiple-choice questions on the topics you are studying. Use AI for help when needed to put into plain language something difficult to understand.
To broaden perspectives: Ask AI to challenge your ideas by posing counterarguments; this will expand your understanding and make it more well-rounded. Brainstorm with AI to explore different perspectives on a topic you are currently studying.
For organising your studies: Have AI make a to-do list for you, schedules for when to turn in your work, or information search strategies.
For finishing touches: You can use AI to proofread your writing, condense it, or clarify the terms used.
Make sure to verify AI-generated information against non-AI sources, for example, with information from textbooks and other course materials.

Remember that large language models are just computer programmes, and therefore they cannot be held responsible for the texts they generate. The responsibility is yours to carefully examine AI content before putting it into your own work. Be prepared to defend or give justifications for the end results. Ethical AI use is based on the fairness, transparency and the source criticism you apply to AI output.

At Aalto, AI is meant to be an aid for studies; it is not a shortcut to learning. You can get the most out of it by using it ethically, critically and transparently.

Risks and restrictions on using GenAI include:

Hallucinations: Information produced by GenAI may sound convincing, but actually be wildly innacurate containing fabricated citations, incorrect formulas or calculations, erroneous grammatical examples, or non-existent research findings.

What to do: Perform fact-checking, verify that references are from reliable sources, test the accuracy of any calculations performed, and use library databases to verify research results.

Distortions: GenAI may reflect biases due to the kind of information in its training data. For instance, historical data may reflect Eurocentrism, medical symptoms may highlight certain populations, or people may be stereotypically depicted.

What to do: Actively seek alternative perspectives and sources, verify information using diverse materials, and include your own contrasting views.

Copyright: Copying AI generated text without proper citation may be considered plagiarism, the materials used to train an AI model may violate copyright restrictions, and AI-generated content may be too similar to the source material it was trained on.

What to do: Ensure your right to use of the material, follow proper citation practices, and disclose any use of AI in your work, following your course guidelines.

Data privacy: Do not share confidential data or personal information with an AI model, such as inside information about fellow students, the location of an internshp, or not-yet-published material from your teacher.

What to do: Anonymise data by removing personal identifiers, use only Aalto-approved tools (e.g., Aalto AI Assistant, Microsoft 365 products), and review privacy policies.

AI performance and environmental impact: AI consumes energy. It can be wasteful to use AI for things you could do more quickly yourself or to have it generate massive amounts of text or images.

What to do: Put clear limits on the scope of your request, ask for a summary before requesting an extensive output, and use lighter versions of AI tools (Aalto AI Assistant allows you to choose the older language model, GPT 4o, to conserve energy).

Tips for using artificial intelligence in learning

You may use AI to support your learning unless otherwise instructed by your teacher. Students are always responsible for the content of the work they turn in. Teachers may restrict the use of AI for certain courses or assignments, depending on the intended learning outcomes. Regarding course assesment criteria, teachers are to clearly communicate restrictions on AI use.
AI may be used for purposes such as brainstorming and text formatting. AI-generated text may not be presented directly or in unmodified form as your own work. Follow best practices for academic writing.
Using AI against given guidelines may be considered misconduct and will be responded to in accordance with the procedures in force at the time of the possible misconduct. It is prohibited to use AI for maturity exams.
Due to copyright and privacy concerns, teachers may only enter student work into systems that are approved by Aalto University.
If you have questions about the permissible use of AI in a course, do not hesitate to ask your course instructor!
Read more here:

Guidance for the use of artificial intelligence in teaching and learning at Aalto University.

Scopus is a large abstract and citation database. Outside campus network use VPN connection.

Aalto AI Assistant

Aalto AI Assistant is the university’s own AI tool. It is secure, free of charge, and data you input will not be used to train the model. As a service, no one will have access to read your conversation history. Log in to the service with your Aalto user ID. The service is under continual development.

Personal data must not be entered into Aalto AI Assistant. Personal data includes contact information, student numbers, personal identity codes and health information.

Data security is a priority for Aalto. Aalto has implemented appropriate technical, organisational and administrative safeguards to protect all personal data from loss, misuse, unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration and destruction.

Can I use other AI services in my studies?

Use of any free public service comes with risks. Some free AI services may use your conversations and usage data for developing their own language models or analytics. Other risks include incorrect or misleading content, which is risk that all language models – including Aalto AI Assistant – may pose. You must not enter confidential information into an AI service. Confidential information includes your student number, project work by a classmate, or a teacher's course materials.

We recommend using Aalto AI Assistant, as it does not use your data for language- model training, and you can provide it with internal information securely.

Always read the terms of use for each service.

A person points at a projection screen displaying various images and text.

Aalto AI Assistant is Aalto University’s secure, ChatGPT-based generative AI tool for all students, academic staff and service unit staff, accessible with Aalto credentials and safe to use even with internal and confidential information. AI literacy is becoming a core skill, and Aalto supports this with self-study materials and hands-on training on topics such as generative AI basics, safe and responsible use, AI in teaching routines, and AI ethics and learning. All these tools, trainings and guidance are available to the entire Aalto community.

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