PHYS 404 :: Physics Illinois :: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

AI tools such as ChatGPT can be useful learning and engineering tools. During the lab sessions, you are encouraged to use AI to help you understand, design, build, troubleshoot, and analyze your circuits. During the lectures, you are encouraged to use AI to help you prepare for your in-class presentations.

Appropriate uses include:

• Asking AI to explain circuit concepts, components, or measurement techniques.

• Getting suggestions for circuit design or troubleshooting when your circuit does not behave as expected.

• Checking calculations and analyzing measurement results.

• Getting help with programming, data analysis, or plotting.

• Asking AI to suggest possible causes of unexpected experimental results.

However, you are responsible for understanding and verifying everything you submit. AI can make mistakes, including incorrect circuit analysis, calculations, or technical recommendations. You should use your own measurements and observations to determine whether an AI suggestion is correct.

For lab reports, AI may help you organize, edit, or explain your work, but the experimental results, analysis, and conclusions MUST reflect your own work and understanding. Do NOT use AI to fabricate measurements, experimental results, or observations. Infringement will be treated as cheating and handled according to UIUC academic integrity policy; you will risk FAILing this course.

The goal is not to avoid AI, but to learn how to use it as an effective engineering assistant while developing your own ability to design, troubleshoot, and understand electronic circuits.