How to deal with generative AI in UNIGIS studies

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) systems offer a wide range of potential for studying and teaching, but also new challenges. Important questions about studying and using generative AI will be answered on this website. You should also take a look at our guideline to dealing with generative AI.

It is important to us that, despite or even with generative AI systems, you can manage your learning processes autonomously and secure your learning progress. Ultimately, the intellectual process and responsibility for the content produced must always remain with humans and must not be outsourced to a machine. Aleksandr Tiulkanov’s decision tree helps with this:

Flowchart generative AI

Based on Aleksandr Tiulkanov (2023): Is it safe to use ChatGPT for your task? Available online (© https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.de)

What exactly is generative artificial intelligence?

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is a type of AI that is able to create content such as text, images, videos, audio or software code. Generative AI is based on sophisticated deep learning models that are trained with huge amounts of data in a so-called “self-supervised” approach. Patterns and relationships are identified and coded in a “self-learning” process. In a second step, the inference phase, this information is used to generate content that is similar to the learned patterns and relationships in response to a prompt.

The most important questions and answers

Here you will find questions and answers on the topic, which, in addition to the guidelines for dealing with generative AI, provide an initial orientation for the use of generative AI systems in UNIGIS studies. Please note that the available systems are constantly evolving and the situation is currently quite dynamic. It is therefore possible that this guide will also have to be adapted. Feel free to check back here, stay critical and use your common sense more than ever.

Status: 11.03.2026

In your UNIGIS studies, unless the module lecturer explicitly prohibits the use of generative AI systems, the application of this technology is generally subject to your own responsible handling. Should generative AI be used, it must always be clearly indicated (see the section “How do I cite correctly the use of generative AI in the assignment submissions?”).

A separate section (“Is it allowed to use generative AI in the Master Thesis?”) refers to the use of generative AI in the Master Thesis, which is different.

Generative AI is particularly suitable for supporting the introduction to a new topic, providing an initial overview of relevant aspects, or offering initial ideas. However, the deeper and more specific a question is, the more problematic the generative process step (the “inference phase”) becomes when using generative AI; during this step a new output (such as text, images, etc.) is created by combining individual components from the trained dataset. The deeper your understanding of the thematic area, the better your capabilities to accurately verify the validity of the results.

But keep in mind: Whenever you do not fully understand the results or cannot reliably assess their accuracy, generative AI is not an appropriate tool!

The use of generative AI tools for creating texts, figures, or code, as well as for proofreading and style improvement is strictly regulated in a Master Thesis. Please read carefully the guidelines and if you have further questions, do not hesitate to consult the supervisor of your Master Thesis.

If you are using AI systems such as ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Gemini, Claude or similar tools for the assignment submissions, you must disclose this in a transparent and appropriate manner. Please keep the following points in mind:

1. Table of Declaration

At the end of every solution document of your assignments you must include a table of declaration that discloses the use of AI (extent, area of application, tools). This table, which you can find in the guidelines and in Moodle, must be filled out truthfully even if you have not used any AI.

2. Use of Generative AI in Programming Tasks

If generative AI is used in coding assignments, this must not only be indicated in the corresponding checkbox. In addition, all code sections that were not created entirely independently or were only slightly modified must be marked within the code itself, for example through appropriate comments.

Here is an example of such a comment in a Python script:
# This code section was generated with the assistance of ChatGPT (GPT-4.5, May 2025).
# Prompt: “Write a Python script to convert WGS84 coordinates to UTM”.
# Output partially adopted and modified.

Please note that responsibility for the accuracy and academic integrity of your work lies with you in all cases!

The use of generative AI to create assessment-relevant content without proper indication is considered as academic misconduct. This is equivalent to plagiarism and may result in a negative grade or, in the worst case, even exclusion from your studies.

Further Resources

Guidelines

Guidelines for the use of generative AI in UNIGIS studies