How do I use AI safely for work and study?

Curriculum for Life editorial team

AI is widely relied on, from homework help to job applications. Here’s how to make it work for you without falling into common traps.

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An illustration by an artist that depicts language models which generate text.

Why AI is such a big deal right now

AI has recently become the hot topic for any industry: whether it’s digital, engineering, or creative. AI always has some form of involvement, which can benefit everyone. The potential it can bring to many people and organisations is endless! It’s not just tech talk, it’s shaping how we learn, work, and create.

AI also plays an important role in education. For example, a recent survey by ResourceRA suggestS that 74% of people in the UK aged 16-24 have used AI tools. However, AI is also creating huge worries. Many people nowadays heavily rely on AI to complete work for them, and may not even evaluate the work that AI has provided for them. Furthermore, an investigation by The Guardian found almost 7,000 proven cases of cheating using AI tools in 2023-24, equivalent to 5.1 for every 1,000 students. That was up from 1.6 cases per 1,000 in 2022-23! So, how can we use AI for our benefit while remaining ethical?

Practical ways AI can help you

There are lots of ways AI could help you when it comes to studying. Here are some examples:

Summarising notes: To get a quick review, you can get AI to help you read the notes and provide a short summary.
Creating revision plans: Ever struggle to plan out how to revise your necessary subjects? AI can help build you a timetable based on your needs and deadlines (such as exam dates and subjects that you need to revise).
Explaining tricky topics: Didn’t understand what your teacher was trying to teach you? You can use AI to help research and explain your desired topic in a way you can understand.
CVs and cover letters: AI can help draft templates and suggest improvements to solidify your CV/ cover letter.
Interview practice: Gain more confidence with the help of AI by making chatbots simulate common interview questions.
Career research: Job descriptions can be summarised and highlight required skills with the help of AI, although it’s best to double-check the summary for any hallucinations

A phone being handheld with Deepseek AI app open,

Using AI safely

One thing to be aware of when you’re using AI is to try not to rely on it too much. There is some evidence to suggest that people who rely too much on AI are not developing skills of their own. AI is a tool that is useful when it comes to assisting you, not doing tasks for you.

A good way to allow AI to assist you is to start off by providing you with an idea, then adding on with your own thoughts and ideas. Furthermore, try practice problems yourself, you could even question the answers AI provide for you. These suggestions can help you stay sharp, confident, and in control of your own learning.

Furthermore, when AI provides you with resources and information, it is important to fact check them. AI isn’t perfect and it can actually get things wrong from time to time, so always double check and review what it sends you.

AI is powerful, but what is more important for your personal development is your very own thinking skills, creativity skills, and the effort that you put in. If you combine your own skills with the help of AI, you can get the best of both worlds!

School and work guidelines made simple

Many teachers use AI for things like planning, supporting their marking, or creating resources. They will be careful to make sure it’s used fairly and that it’s only used to allow them to work more efficiently and to spend the extra time doing the important things!

However, teachers generally don’t like to see AI used in assessments such as homework or tests. They want to see what their students have learnt, not what AI can generate. It also gives some students an unfair advantage over others, which can threaten academic integrity. Schools will have their own guidelines for AI in homework and exams, so it’s worth having a look at them for the school/college you go to!

At work, employers expect honesty. They do not want you to fake your answers or your CV. AI can be really useful to help you do research on organisations (as long as you fact-check it), but everything should be personalised, making it more about you. Remember, employers can identify whether or not you have been using AI in your applications. You’re better off staying authentic and being your true self! This matters especially in your interviews, where they want to find out about you.

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Find out more

If you would like to learn more or build your digital skills, here are some sources you could use to help you use AI and technology the right way.

Raspberry Pi Certificate in Applied Computing – a free course which teaches everyone the basics of computing, there is also a module that talks about the basics of AI, definitely worth a look!
Guide To AI – BBC Bitesize – BBC Bitesize offers plenty of articles and guides which allow you to make the most of using AI.
Going Beyond Tech Savvy: How to Develop Digital Skills for Your Career – Our GMACS blog is a short and sweet article, which provides advice on how to develop digital skills.

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