How to use AI for homework without cheating

The line: who did the thinking?

If an AI writes the essay, paragraph or answers you hand in, the work isn't yours, and most schools treat that the same way as copying from a friend.

Using AI to understand a topic, plan your work, practise or check your reasoning is different. That's what a good tutor does, and the learning still happens in your head.

Rules differ between schools and even between teachers, so check what yours allow before you use AI on an assignment.

Ways of using AI that help you learn

• Ask it to explain a topic another way, or with an example, when your notes don't click.
• Ask for a hint for the next step instead of the answer.
• Ask it to quiz you on a chapter, then check your answers yourself.
• Try a problem first, then ask it to check your working and say where it went wrong.
• Ask it to help you break a big assignment into steps with dates.
• Ask what's missing from your outline, without asking it to rewrite anything.

Ways that cross the line

• Pasting the question in and copying the answer out.
• Asking it to write your essay, paragraph or lab report.
• Rewording AI text so it looks like yours.
• Using it during a test or quiz when that isn't allowed.

Prompts that keep you doing the thinking

• “Don't give me the answer. Ask me questions until I can work it out.”
• “Here's what I think so far. What am I missing?”
• “Give me a hint for the next step only.”
• “Quiz me on this chapter, one question at a time.”
• “Explain it like I'm new to it, then check I understood.”

Check what it tells you

AI can be wrong and sound completely sure. Check facts against your notes, your textbook or your teacher, especially dates, numbers and quotes.