AI Terms and Conditions

Not all AI tools are equally transparent, private, or appropriate for university work. Before using an AI tool, always ask:

• Age restriction: Is there a minimum age (e.g. 13+ with parental consent, or 18+)?
• Academic risk: Some tools encourage shortcuts that could lead to academic misconduct if used to replace your own work. For details of what counts as misconduct, always see AI Rules and Responsibilities.
• Learning impact: Does it support your thinking — or just do the work for you? Relying on AI instead of your own skills can put your integrity at risk.
• Data use: How does the company say your data will be stored, shared, or reused?
• Ownership: Who owns the input and the output?
• Cost: Are there hidden fees or usage limits? Be aware that some “freemium” models give extra features only to paying users. Students who can’t afford upgrades should not be disadvantaged — focus on using safe, university-supported tools.

When reading a tool’s T&Cs, check how your data will be handled.

Ask yourself:

• Storage risk: Will my input be stored permanently?
• Deletion control: Can I delete what I upload?

If you are using Copilot, these risks are managed under Abertay’s licence. These checks matter most if you are considering public tools.

For full detail on storage, anonymisation, and deletion, see Student Data Privacy with AI.

Some AI tools reuse your input to train their models. Check whether:

• The T&Cs mention data being used for training
• You can opt out
• The company makes this clear

Copilot does not reuse your inputs for training under the university licence. These checks are most important when you are looking at public tools.

For practical advice on adjusting settings, see AI and data privacy.

Check the T&Cs to see (ownership means who legally controls your input and output):

• Input/output ownership: Do you keep ownership of your input and the AI’s output?
• Reuse rights: Can the company reuse your content for training or commercial purposes?
• Copyright risk: Is there a risk the AI output contains copyrighted material?

Example: OpenAI (ChatGPT) says you own both your input and the output. Not all companies follow this. Copilot, under the university licence, keeps ownership with you. These questions are especially important if you use public tools.

More on ownership and intellectual property is explained in AI and data privacy.

When checking a tool’s T&Cs, look for what they say about accuracy and liability. Good terms will include:

• A disclaimer that outputs may be inaccurate, incomplete, or biased
• A process for reporting mistakes or harmful content
• Acknowledgement of potential ethical risks

Be cautious of tools that make exaggerated accuracy claims or provide no error notices. Reliable tools will state clearly that their outputs may be incorrect. For example, Copilot shows a notice under the prompt box saying: “AI-generated content may be incorrect.”

For more on how to evaluate AI content itself, see the AI Risks and Limitations and Evaluating AI-Generated Content guides.

When reviewing pricing:

• Is there a free version, and what’s missing if I choose this option?
• Do you need to provide card details for a trial?
• Can you cancel easily — and is there a refund policy?

Avoid tools that auto-charge after free trials or hide essential features behind paywalls. Remember that paid tiers of public tools may look attractive, but they are not required for your university work. Copilot and other Abertay-supported tools have no hidden costs — these questions mainly apply if you are considering public tools.

Before you use any non-university AI tool for assessments check:

• Assessment rules: Does my assessment brief allow AI use?
• Academic integrity: Am I following Abertay’s guidance in AI Rules and Responsibilities?
• Learning purpose: Is the tool supporting, not replacing, my skills development?
• Age restriction: Am I old enough to meet the tool’s minimum age requirement?
• T&Cs clarity: Are privacy, ownership, costs, and limitations clearly explained?
• Accuracy disclaimer: Does the tool clearly state that outputs may be inaccurate or limited?
• Consent: Can I control whether my data is reused for training?
• Tool choice: Am I prioritising Abertay-supported tools (Copilot, Adobe Express, Statista) for stronger protections?