Gathering Information & Brainstorming

Artificial intelligence (AI) can be a powerful tool for exploring topics, generating ideas, and synthesizing information.

Artificial intelligence (AI) can be a powerful tool for exploring topics, generating ideas, and synthesizing information. When used responsibly, AI can help identify patterns, inspire creativity, and expand intellectual inquiry. However, AI outputs are not inherently reliable and should never replace human judgment, critical thinking, or ethical decision-making.

This guidance explains how to engage with AI during the idea-generation process in alignment with Emory’s standards for ethical scholarship and responsible innovation.

Best Practices

AI tools can efficiently sift through large volumes of data, such as scholarly articles or publicly available blogs, to identify relevant information, categorize content, detect patterns, and inspire new research questions. However, because these tools may rely on incomplete or biased training data, unintended bias can still appear in the outputs.

To address this, users should carefully review AI-generated content for signs of bias, exclusion, or distortion. Validate results against credible sources and consider the broader context.

Creating strong prompts is key. A good prompt is clear, focused, neutral in tone, and aligned with the research goal. For additional support, users may consult external resources such as PromptingGuide.ai.

When working in domains that require factual accuracy, it is important to verify AI outputs with reliable, domain-specific sources. Suggested practices include:

  • Academic Verification: Use databases such as PubMed, JSTOR, IEEE Xplore, or Google Scholar to confirm claims or locate primary sources.
  • Public Health: Cross-check against official publications from the CDC, WHO, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, FDA, or NIH.
  • Historical and Policy Research: Validate information using trusted archives like the Library of Congress, National Archives, or regional equivalents.

AI tools should not be relied upon as the sole source of information. It is essential to cross-reference content with reputable sources to maintain accuracy. Neglecting to verify information may lead to the dissemination of misinformation, regardless of how credible the content appears.

Practices to Avoid

Do not rely solely on AI for the generation of new ideas

AI can be a powerful tool for ideation and brainstorming, but it should never replace human creativity or critical thinking. Instead, integrate AI in ways that enhance, rather than substitute, human ingenuity.

Effective ways to blend AI with human creativity include:

  • Alternate between AI and team ideas. Begin with AI-generated suggestions to surface diverse perspectives or overcome creative blocks, then hold human-led discussions to interpret, refine, or reject those ideas based on context and expertise.

Across disciplines, from visual design to scientific research, AI can spark innovation when integrated thoughtfully. The key is ensuring that final decisions, values, and creative direction remain human-driven.