How can generative AI tools help with your university studies?

You can use generative AI tools as support for your studies in different ways, provided you have the right mindset. A crucial starting point when considering the use of a text-generating AI tool is to ensure you possess sufficient subject knowledge to assess the relevance of the generated text. Always compare against other sources and don't blindly trust the text's accuracy. Delivering factual truths is not the strength of generative AI.

Crafting good prompts (i.e., instructions or questions) for the AI tool is a vital part of successfully using AI to support your studies. For instance, inform the AI tool that you want it to act as a study coach or teacher, and provide the level and subject of your inquiries. You can also paste text material as background and instruct the AI tool to base its answers on this. If you're not receiving relevant answers, it might be due to how you've phrased your questions, or the subject might not be extensively covered in the materials the AI has been trained on.
 
Here are some ways to use generative AI: 

• Endless patience for your questions: feel free to ask anything, anytime. If you see AI as your study coach, it will always be available to guide you.
• Tailored explanations: everyone learns differently. Get explanations in various ways that cater to your specific needs. Just ask the AI tool to explain in a different way.
• Text improvements – spelling and grammar: not only will your text be corrected, but you can also ask for why certain rules apply or why a certain word or phrase is better.
• Feedback on text structures: constructive feedback with detailed explanations to enhance the organization and flow of your text.
• Text genre samples: get examples of different text types to guide and inspire you.
• Ideas and inspiration: stuck with writer's block? Let AI provide the spark to get your creativity flowing again - but make sure the ideas are your own once they are presented in an examination.
• Practice written and oral skills: whether you want to improve your argumentative skills or your reasoning, AI is here to help. You can do this in both writing and speech.
• Translations in multiple languages: need to translate text or are you studying in a second language? Generative AI translates well in many languages.
• Extra preparation for exams: get sample questions to study or even practice being questioned to prepare yourself best. You can imut material on which the AI-tool then can create quizzes and question you. Instruct the AI to act as a coach and not to give you the answers, but to help you learn.
• Time management: Let AI hel in planning your study schedule, ensuring you cover all necessary materials efficiently.
• Help with programming and writing code. Genrative AI tools like ChatGPT can help in wiring core in several programing languages, but as always you need to have the skill to determine wether to output is viable and good code. 

Beyond ChatGPT, the world offers a vast array of AI tools, each designed with specialties that cater to specific tasks. Whether you're seeking assistance in structuring and breaking down your study sessions for an upcoming exam or engaging in meaningful discussions on particular subjects, there's likely a tool tailored for you. Unlike receiving ready-made answers, many of these tools are designed to further your own reasoning. The efficacy of these tools largely depends on your approach to prompting them. Giving clear, specific instructions, providing context, asking follow-up questions, utilizing keywords, and a willingness to experiment are keys to unlocking their full potential. Imagine having a conversation with the AI: the clearer and more precise you are, the more beneficial the interaction. However, as you explore the capabilities of these AI tools, it's crucial to maintain a sense of caution. Refrain from disclosing personal information, and always be conscious of potential pitfalls, such as biases inherent in some tools.