I’m not sure, but it’s hard to say. We were co-authors on the submission; it wasn’t for a grade. While winning my approval may been a goal, getting the paper published was the superseding aim. And I’m pretty good at making clear that while I’m their first audience, I’m not the most important one.

On the one hand, I can’t blame them for leaning in. On the other, how am I supposed to train them in research communication when GenAI is incapable of the same patient care I wish to take? And when GenAI is so very capable of undoing the results of that patient care?

I was reflecting on this issue over the weekend— writing articles with my graduate students where GenAI is a de facto co-author. Writing together requires trust; I honestly don’t know how to move forward with grace. Most of my grad students are international, and language learning is an obstacle.

Thank you for the suggestion! Incidentally, I’ve already begun sharing it with my students working algorithmic bias. I really appreciate the framing and presentation.

How about you? The new year is treating you well, I hope?

At least when I edit, I know that sometimes I might alter the meaning, and can ask students to sanity check things. I also know when I haven’t altered meaning. With these tools? Such incredible vigilance is required, and it seems that more use produces greater trust. Automation bias run amok.

A student was writing a paper. I commented on a paragraph, they edited and ran it through GenAI, and sent it to me to review again. I commented that the meaning of the paragraph was now different: which was correct? The first sense or the second?

The student could not perceive the change.

I used to be cautiously optimistic about some limited use cases, but recent experiences have continued to inspire me to exhort my students to only use GenAI to do things they can already competently do themselves. I now apply this to using it for grammar and syntax help, too.

It’s also been challenging to watch friends and family in the US grapple with what’s happening just outside their doors. It’s hard to be so far away, to want to protest with them, and to be afraid for them, too.

It’s been clarifying however: I am here, and can only do what I can as best I can.

Well, isn’t that a difficult question to answer these days?

Personally, I’m doing well. I was on sabbatical last year, and this term (my second term back) has been very, very, demanding so far. But I’m having a good time! So that’s good. The slower pace last academic year positioned me well.

😬

Wow, what a flashback. That’s how we used to make Christmas lists, just paging through the catalog, marking things.

Doing yoga with small dogs around is an adventure every single time.