At a Glance

AI technologies like ChatGPT have unlocked new possibilities for creating written content and carrying out language-related tasks. On this page, you’ll find a curated list of AI writing and content creation tools that may prove valuable in academic settings. We provide an overview of the types of content these tools can generate. We’ll also share considerations around each tool’s strengths, limitations, and compliance requirements. This list is designed to serve as a starting point as you explore how and if you’d like to incorporate generative AI writing and content creation tools into your teaching.

Keeping Pace at MIT Sloan: We’re fast, but technology can be faster! We do our best to update our content to match these changes. However, for the most recent software updates and features, please refer directly to the developer’s website. When in doubt, contact us.

How They Work

AI-powered writing assistants like ChatGPT use natural language processing (NLP) technologies that draw upon vast amounts of data to predict contextual words or phrases in a given context (Center for Teaching and Learning, 2023; Stanford Graduate School of Business, 2023). These tools excel at mimicking human-like linguistic patterns and can assist with a wide array of language-related tasks. Beyond chatbots, emerging AI technologies are also capable of generating code or visual elements, thanks to their training on large, specialized datasets.

To learn more about how these AI tools work, watch the How ChatGPT Works: A Non-Technical Primer video by Rama Ramakrishnan, Professor of Practice in Data Science and Applied Machine Learning at MIT Sloan.

Tool List

Below you’ll find a curated selection of AI writing and content creation tools that may prove valuable in academic settings. Please note that this list is not exhaustive but may help you begin to explore these technologies’ capabilities.

IMPORTANT: Keep in mind that generative AI tools can produce biased and inaccurate content. Any content generated by AI should be thoroughly verified for accuracy through human review and additional research.

Tool Description Internet Access Best Used As Pricing Related Resources
ChatGPT ChatGPT is an AI chatbot developed by OpenAI. It's designed to simulate human-like interactions and is trained on a large dataset. ChatGPT Plus is the premium version of ChatGPT, offering access to more advanced algorithms as well as powerful integrations and plugins like Advanced Data Analysis and image generation with DALL-E. Yes A personal assistant Free limited tier; $20/month paid subscription
Claude Claude is an AI chatbot developed by Anthropic. It's designed to simulate human-like interactions and is trained on a large dataset. It’s known for its “constitutional AI” training approach and for its ability to generate interactive artifacts. No A personal assistant Free limited tier; $20/month paid subscription
Gemini Gemini is a Google AI assistant that can help with a variety of tasks. It can access and process real-time information from the web through Google Search and other resources. No A personal assistant Free limited tier; $19.99/month paid subscription
Microsoft Copilot Microsoft Copilot is an AI-powered chatbot built on GPT. It is grounded in the Microsoft Bing search index to provide responses verifiable citations. Chat data is not shared with Microsoft or used to train their AI models. Yes A research assistant Free to MIT Students (18+), Faculty, and Staff
Humata Humata is an AI-powered tool that offers rapid summarizing, real-time Q&A, and efficient content generation from your PDFs. It's ideal for faculty looking to streamline research and enhance productivity. No A research assistant Free limited tier; multiple paid subscription tiers ($1.99/month with verified @edu email accounts)
Llama Llama is a large language model chatbot developed by Meta. It features a code generation model, Code Llama, which supports various programming languages. Llama is notable for its open approach to AI development and global partnerships. No A large-scale AI applications assistant Free

Use to Generate

You can use these tools to generate a wide range of content types including the following:

  • Multiple-choice questions and response options
  • Computer programming source code
  • Cover letters and resumes
  • Emails and messages
  • Essays or short written assignments
  • Exam questions
  • Instructions for a learning activity
  • Learning objectives
  • Metaphors and analogies to explain complex concepts
  • Outlines of papers or presentations
  • Rubrics
  • Scripts for a podcast or video
  • Simulated conversations
  • Study guides
  • Summaries of text like articles or meeting notes
  • Survey questions
    (Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning, n.d.; Mollick, 2023; Stanford Graduate School of Business, 2023)

When used thoughtfully, these AI-powered tools can complement human creativity and analytical skills, rather than replacing them. Understanding both the capabilities and limitations of these tools can inform not only your own use of these tools but also your understanding of how students might use them, enabling you to adapt your assignments and assessments accordingly.

Reliability

More Reliable For

  • General topics (e.g., historical reports, news, theory)
  • Foundational knowledge in your field
  • Public data sets
    (Stanford Graduate School of Business, 2023)

Less Reliable For

  • Highly specialized or niche topics
  • Multiple representations of students’ thinking
  • Private data sets
  • Personal experiences or narratives
  • Reflective writing
    (Stanford Graduate School of Business, 2023)

Data Privacy and Compliance

Any content shared with publicly available AI tools should NOT include any non-public data such as sensitive information (e.g., social security numbers, credit card information, or hiring materials) and personally identifiable information to comply with MIT’s Policies & Procedures and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA). To learn more, see Navigating Data Privacy.

References

Center for Teaching and Learning. (2023, April 21). AI tools in teaching and learning. Stanford Teaching Commons. https://teachingcommons.stanford.edu/news/ai-tools-teaching-and-learning

Stanford Graduate School of Business. (2023, March 6). Teaching in the AI era. Teaching and Learning Hub. https://tlhub.stanford.edu/docs/teaching-in-the-ai-era