Terms of Service: Coming to Terms with AI-Generated Art in the Classroom’

This paper describes the plan and design of a new course, entitled “AI & Art.” The course introduces select tools made possible by generative artificial intelligence and large language models (LLMs). Learning theories that inform course development are briefly discussed. Offered as a studio art elective to satisfy the University Curriculum breadth requirement, “AI & Art” was first launched as a seven weeklong Special Topics course at Quinnipiac University. Career readiness competencies identified by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) are compared to Essential Learning Outcomes and Course Learning Outcomes. Course organization includes a discussion of written responses about select topics, critiques of generated images, followed by practice in writing effective prompts. Students are encouraged to experiment with ChatGPT (OpenAI, 2024a). However, their written responses must pass multiple AI detection tests and be at least 51% “likely to be written by a human!” In accepting the Terms of Service for these AI tools, students are encouraged to exercise the precautionary principle–to critically think about the images they generate and to ask if they (or the AI) are consciously or unconsciously reproducing or reinforcing bias or stereotypes that reifies social inequalities. The results of a student course survey that pertain to engagement are included and discussed along with the pros and cons regarding the adoption of these AI tools.