MIDLANDS STATE UNIVERSITY
Faculty : Business
Sciences
Department : Finance And
Digital Banking
Name : Memory Tanaka
Surname : Munyuki
Reg Number : R253996T
Module : Basic
Communication Skills
Mode of entry : conventional
Code : CS131
Lecturer : Dr P Dube
Question
1
(a) Give specific details of how you would use artificial intelligence (AI) tools generated
content to help you in researching on and writing the assignment. (15)
(b) Identify and briefly explain any two ethical concern that are arise when you artificial
intelligence (AI) in academic writing. (15)
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has revolutionized the way academic writing is approached, providing
tools that streamline research, content generation, grammar checking, and citation management.
The rapid advancement of AI technologies has made it easier to draft, proofread, and organize
academic content. However, despite these advancements, the use of AI in academic writing also
brings forth ethical challenges, particularly concerning plagiarism, authorship, and the integrity
of scholarly work. This paper thoroughly explores how AI can be utilized to enhance academic
writing and addresses the ethical issues associated with its application. The use of AI tools in
academic writing encompasses various stages, from initial research to final proofreading and
formatting. Below are the primary ways AI is used in academic writing, each explored in detail.
Firstly, research assistance and data analysis.AI tools play a crucial role in gathering relevant
literature, organizing data, and even conducting complex data analysis. Al conducts a
comprehensive literature review is essential in academic writing. AI-powered search engines like
Google Scholar, Semantic Scholar, and Microsoft Academic facilitate the discovery of scholarly
articles by employing sophisticated algorithms to rank and present the most relevant sources
(Ebidor et al., 2024).
For instance, Google Scholar uses AI to filter search results based on citation frequency and
relevance, making it easier for researchers to identify high-impact studies. Semantic Scholar, on
the other hand, leverages natural language processing (NLP) to understand the content and
context of academic papers, providing users with summaries and citation graphs (Mitchell,
2019).
More so, there is also data mining and text analysis. In quantitative research, data analysis is a
critical component. AI tools like IBM Watson and Python libraries (Pandas, NumPy, Scikit-learn)
facilitate data cleaning, processing, and visualization. These tools automate statistical analyses
and create meaningful insights from raw data, which are essential when conducting empirical
research (Software 2020).
2
In addition to, ethical concerns in using AI for academic writing which are plagiarism and
academic Integrity. One of the most pressing concerns is plagiarism, as AI-generated text may
inadvertently resemble existing works. Some paraphrasing tools produce content that, despite
being restructured, closely mirrors original sources (Zaman et al 2020). This poses a threat to
academic integrity and can lead to severe consequences, including academic misconduct
allegations.
Moreover, students might misuse AI tools to generate entire essays or research papers without
making substantial personal contributions. This practice undermines the fundamental purpose of
education and intellectual development. Through the incorporation of block chain technology,
the system guarantees the accuracy and openness of data, hence improving the dependability and
credibility of the claims process. This AI-powered technology greatly enhances customer
happiness by accelerating the resolution of claims and safeguarding insurers against fraudulent
activities, consequently boosting overall operational efficiency in the insurance industry.
(Ramagundam,2021)
Another critical ethical issue is the question of authorship and intellectual ownership. When AI
contributes significantly to drafting or editing, it becomes ambiguous who the real author is
(Said,2023). Academic guidelines often lack clarity on acknowledging AI-generated content,
leading to disputes about intellectual ownership.
Furthermore, relying excessively on Al tools might diminish the researcher's role in critical
thinking and original idea generation. This dependence could lead homogenized content, where
genuine academic creativity and personal input are compromised. (Wilson 2022)
In conclusion, artificial Intelligence has undeniably transformed academic writing by enhancing
research efficiency, content creation, and grammatical precision. However, its application must
be handled with ethical responsibility to maintain academic integrity and authorship
transparency. Institutions should develop clear guidelines on acceptable AI usage to ensure that
while technology aids writing, it does not replace intellectual contribution and creativity.
3
References
Dawit DA (2020). An Overview of Data Analyss and Interpretatons in Research. Inter. J.
Acad. Res. Educ. Rev. 8(1)
Ebidor, L.& Ikhide, I. G.(2024) “Literature Review in Scientific Research: An Overview”, East
African Journal of Education Studies, 7(2), pp. 211218. doi: 10.37284/eajes.7.2.1909.
J.R. Wilson, Academic Writing, (2022). Available from:
https://wilson.fas.harvard.edu/files/jeffreywilson/files/jeffrey_r._wilson_academic_writing.pdf.
[2]M.
Mitchell M., (2019)"Artificial intelligence hits natural language processing "Information 10, 5 .
Ramagundam,S(2021)"Content generation and enhancement with artificial intelligence”.
International Neurourology Journal 25 (4), 22-28
Said , S.G.,(2023)"AI authorship and ownership of intellectual property in industrial power and
control systems"2023 5th International Conference on Control Systems, Mathematical Modeling,
Automation and Energy Efficiency (SUMMA), 217-221
Software Testing Help (2020) Data Mining Techniques: Algorithm, Methods & Top data mining
tools.
Zaman,N.A.B.,Latin, S.F.M., Saad, N.S., Rashid,S.N., Kamis,Y., Abd Kadir, l.K.,& Dollah, E.Ab
K.W.(2020)"Plagiarism and academic integrity", International journal of academic research in
business and social sciences.10(11)1138-1149
