Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a machine's ability to perform some cognitive functions that we typically associate with human intelligence, such as language processing, reasoning, problem-solving, and creativity.  Generative AI is a sub-strand of machine deep learning, an AI model that generates content in response to a prompt using probabilities and algorithms. (McKinsey | What is AI?)

Generative AI has disrupted many facets of life and work since Open AI's release of ChatGPT 3.5 in late 2022.  Its adoption was unprecedented; ChatGPT reached 100 million users in two months, around the world.  Public and private sector investments in development of generative AI have grown exponentially during this short-time, and new models by the OpenAI, Microsoft, Google, and others are released every few months. 

Generative AI has had an immediate impact in education, prompting a wide range of reactions and responses, from bans in fear of students circumventing learning to active embrace of its potential to supplement and enrich learning.  While AI's ultimate footprint in history is unknown, it clearly requires thoughtful management and courageous engagement, for educators, learners and families. 

While generative AI creates content, agentic AI achieves goals and performs tasks.  It can plan, make decisions, use coonected tools, interact with systems, and execute mutli-step workflows with varying levels of autonomy (set by user). (Agentic AI vs. Generative AI | IBM)

By wrestling with the opportunities and challenges that AI poses, SM is living out our commitment to life-long learning and the charism values of compassion, humility, justice, and goodness.  Many current policy discussions and ethical debates happening right now around AI note the importance of the "human in the loop."  For SM, the educators are the humans with AI in the loop, directing technological application toward deeper learning and appropriate use within the context of each course. 

To this end, SM is investing in professional development for faculty and staff, evaluating platforms and tools with safety and privacy in mind, and rolling out AI and media literacy curriculum for students.  SM is continuously updating its policy to balance innovative adoption with responsible use.  SM is also prioritizing clear and repetitive communication to guide students and manage expectations. 

As we go further along on this journey, every SM student will come across AI-assisted, AI-enhanced, and AI-empowered assignments.  Students and educators will collaborate to learn, and we expect they will come across hits and misses.  We embrace both and reflect together, as they will prepare SM students for the realities of their tomorrow.

• We talk about AI. We talk about what it is and isn't, and we observe that it's around us.
• We follow the instructor's guidance.  Some assignments may be AI-free, some may be AI-empowered.  We strive to gain skills and knowledge embedded in both types of assignments.
• We factcheck.  We understand we are responsible for AI's output, even when it is inaccurate or biased.
• We cite.  We describe use of AI within the context of assignment if its use is allowed. 
• We guide students and faculty toward AI tools that safeguard user privacy and safety.
• We watch for bias, and mis-or dis-information. We also respect copyrights and intellectual property.

Media literacy refers to the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, create, and act, using all forms of communication (NAMLE), and has garnered much attention as the rapid growth of the Internet, cellphones and social media facilitated the rise and dissemination of mis- and dis-information.  The call for media literacy has reached new levels with AI, given AI's tendency to hallucinate at times and the distance it exacerbates between information and its primary source.  In this digital era, media literacy is literacy and as such, states are mandating curriculum integration in core subjects. Media literacy skills such as factchecking, asking questions, lateral reading and click restraint will prepare tomorrow's adults to be wise, alert and active consumers, creators and citizens, collaborating to promote charism values in their communities. (What is Media Literacy? | Media Literacy Now)

• Engage in conversations with your student about AI's strengths and weaknesses.
• Monitor your student's access to AI tools, including AI wearables (Meta glasses, smart watches, etc), and AI embedded in social media apps on the phone such as Snapchat. Please note many AI tools require parent consent for users 13-17 years old.  
• Reinforce the importance of original work, academic integrity, copyrights and intellectual property.

• Faculty and administration will approach each case with the ultimate goal of learning in-mind. 
• AI detector tools may be used, but will not be the sole determining factor, in establishing evidence of misuse.
• SM's policy on academic dishonesty will be applied, if determined to be applicable.

• Learn about Artificial Intelligence (AI) | Code.org
• A Generative AI Primer | UK National Center for AI JISC
• A People's Guide to AI | Allied Media Projects
• AI Guide for Parents | UNICEF

Learn about the Rome Call for AI Ethics, in which the faith denominations, the private sector, governments, and academia are coming together to share the responsibility of developing artificial intelligence to serve every person and humanity as a whole. Three main areas of focus are ethics, education and rights.  Six principles guiding the work on AI for the signatories are transparency, inclusion, accountability, impartiality, reliability, and security/privacy.

Pope Leo XIV's First Encyclical, titled Magnificent Humanity, on safeguarding the human person in the time of artificial intelligence

2024-25 AI Guidance for Catholic Schools

Advancing AI research, ​​​​education, and policy to improve the human condition. HAI at Stanford annually publishes the AI Index report, a seminal compilation of trends in global AI development, adoption, and usage.

• Common Sense Education for Parents
• Children and Screens - Youth and Generative AI
• Day of AI (MIT Raise): Family Resources

• Haidt, J and E Schmidt, "AI is about to make social media (much) more toxic, The Atlantic, May 2023.
• Duffy, C. "Social media platforms are using what you create for artificial intelligence.  Here's how to opt out." CNN, Sept 2024. 
• Teens are using generative AI to keep them company |  The Dawn of the AI Era, Common Sense Education, Sept 2024.
• AI Influencers Explode on Social Media, ABC News, March 2024. 

• Digital Inquiry Group: Civic Online Reasoning overview
• CrashCourse: Navigating Digital Information Series
• MediaWise: Teen Fact-Checking Network