Artificial Intelligence (AI) Considerations: Citing Generative AI
Citing generative AI is one key consideration when using generative artificial intelligence (AI) clinically. Make sure you also consider:
When using generative AI for scientific or research purposes, remember to follow these two cardinal rules:
- Be transparent: Clearly and plainly disclose that you used AI tools to generate this product.
- Cite your sources. Proactively prove that your work is firmly rooted in, and based on, scientific evidence.
AI in Scholarly Publishing: Positives and Pitfalls
This ASHA Leader article discusses the benefits of using AI in scholarly publishing and research—but reminds readers to proceed with caution and follow the authors’ tips to avoid pitfalls.
AI usage will vary depending on state and local laws as well as payer and facility policy. Here are some common ways that audiologists and SLPs might use generative AI:
- generating drafts of instructions for general patient follow-up care
- creating informational materials with your brand style
- generating example case studies for a presentation
- creating therapy materials (e.g., word lists of targets, home practice sheets, visual checklists or sequenced instructions, stories for practicing comprehension or narratives)
- generating a list of websites for referrals
Remember: Use of a generative AI tool is not a replacement for your clinical expertise. You are using your professional knowledge and expertise to craft prompts and free up your capacity to practice at the top of your license. Even when AI assists in that process, the end result is still your professional work—and your responsibility.
Clinicians who are new to AI—and even those who aren’t—may wonder when their use of generative AI might introduce ethical issues. If you find yourself in any of the situations mentioned below, you’ll have to consider how you’ll disclose content that you’ve created with generative AI.
- When you’re using translator tools or sharing documents with qualified translators to verify content. Provide original documents in addition to any generated translations. Acknowledge the limitations of using an AI translation tool.
- When you’re using generative AI for scholarly work. ASHA recommends reviewing these resources.
- When you’re including content created solely by generative AI (e.g., such as images, charts, and other materials) in shared documents or collaborative content.
Examples
See the following use cases of audiologists and SLPs citing generative AI when using it in their clinical practice.
Upon completing a comprehensive audiologic evaluation, an audiologist types a description of the documented hearing loss and their recommendation for follow-up with an ENT.
- The audiologist uses an online AI tool to generate a translation from English to Spanish.
- The Spanish text is printed below the original text—after a sentence that states, “This AI-generated translation is provided to assist with understanding and has not been reviewed by a human translator. Esta traducción generada por IA se proporciona para ayudar con la comprensión y no ha sido revisada por un traductor humano.”
- The audiologist reviews test results with the patient using an interpreter that the clinic provides.
- While giving the patient a copy of the audiogram, the audiologist acknowledges the use of AI to generate the Spanish translated text.
A school-based SLP wants to conduct a caregiver training presentation to families at the school.
- After creating the content for the presentation, the SLP uses a generative AI tool to create infographics that will become caregiver handouts.
- The SLP uses the AI tool to complete a plain-language edit of the caregiver handout materials.
- The school’s leadership team reviews the presentation and caregiver handouts.
- The team recommends that the SLP follow the facility’s documented instructions for citing sources and attributing the use of AI.
- The SLP adheres to APA’s style rules on attributing AI sources by adding a citation and a disclosure to the presentation and to the caregiver handouts.
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