Beginner's Guide to Generative AI
Thanks to the growing UC Davis Aggie AI ecosystem, generative AI tools are now easily accessible to students, faculty and staff. While getting started may seem daunting at first, mastering a few basics will build your confidence. This guide provides clear instructions to help you spark productivity and save time.
Start With a Prompt
Most generative AI tools are Large Language Models (LLMs)—systems trained on vast amounts of text to predict and generate human-like language. Because they rely on prediction, providing detailed "prompts" is essential for high-quality results.
A prompt is simply the instruction or question you give the GenAI tool. The clearer and more specific your request, the better the output.
When writing a prompt, remember:
- Be specific.
- Instead of: “Summarize my notes.”
- Try this: "Provide a 300-word summary of these notes, highlighting the top 3 key points."
- Include context.
- Instead of: “Write a project pitch.”
- Try this: "Help me write a project pitch for a client that focuses on [Topic A] and [Topic B]."
- Use examples.
- Instead of: “Create a table with this data…”
- Try this: “Organize this data into a table with columns for Date, Task, and Priority."
Prompts are the key to making GenAI work for you. There are endless ways to tailor responses to get specific information. If you can master prompting, you have conquered the most challenging part of using AI. For more help, visit the UC Davis Library Prompt Guide. Students, we recommend reviewing the UC Davis Student Guide to GenAI before using Aggie AI or other AI-related tools.
Use Cases
AI tools excel at generating ideas, summarizing information, and organizing materials. In a university setting, these capabilities support various academic and administrative tasks.
Here are some examples of situations where AI’s capabilities may be helpful.
User Group | Core Task | Recommended Tool | Beginner Use Case |
| Students | Study Aid | NotebookLM | Upload your lecture materials to generate a custom study guide or a "podcast-style" audio summary of the week’s topics. |
| Students | Tutoring | Google Gemini | Paste a complex paragraph from a textbook and ask, "Explain this to me like I’m a freshman in this major." |
| Students | Meeting Prep | Zoom AI Companion | If enabled, ask Zoom AI Companion questions about what is being discussed in a meeting without disrupting. |
| Faculty | Course Design | ChatGPT Edu | Brainstorm unique essay prompts or draft a grading rubric based on your specific learning objectives. |
| Faculty | Classroom Management | Zoom AI Companion | Automatically generate meeting summaries and action items. |
| Faculty | Research Support | Microsoft 365 Copilot | Use Copilot to generate personal summaries of long long research papers or your rough notes. |
| Staff | Departmental FAQ | Rocky AI Chat | Use Rocky to quickly find and verify UC Davis policies (e.g., travel reimbursement or hiring guidelines) to assist colleagues. |
| Staff | Communication | Microsoft 365 Copilot | Draft professional email templates for department-wide announcements or summarize long email threads in Outlook. |
| Staff | Meeting Efficiency | Zoom AI Companion | Generate "Smart Recordings" of department meetings that are automatically divided into chapters for easy review later. |
Important Considerations
Protect Your Data
While generative AI can be helpful, always be cautious about the information you put into AI tools and when sharing the generated output. Never use AI tools with Protection Level 3 or 4 data, such as transcripts, financial records, or personally identifiable information. Consult the UC Davis Data Classification page for additional information.
AI tools at UC Davis are only approved for P2 Data with the following considerations:
- The AI tool is configured or procured to use by UC Davis students, faculty, or staff (see Aggie AI tools.)
- Do not combine P2 Data with other identifiable information (like names) that would elevate the protection level.
Ethical Use and Accuracy
- Use Your Human Judgment: AI should assist your work, not replace you. Do not automate work, decisions, or actions that require human oversight.
- Uphold Academic Integrity: Always follow University Guidelines. Instructors should clearly state AI expectations in their syllabi, and students must consult instructors before using AI for coursework.
- Verify Everything: AI can make errors and hallucinate. Always fact-check data and citations before using them in your final work.
- Consult Professionals: Do not use AI to generate medical, legal, or specialized advice. Check with your doctor before following any AI-generated workout plans.
When in doubt, follow these rules:
- Safe to Share: General preferences, public info, and anonymous or hypothetical data.
- Never Share: Passwords, account numbers, medical records, sensitive student data, or personal information.
Find additional guidance on using AI at UC Davis at: https://iet.ucdavis.edu/aggie-ai/ai-guidance
Content on this website is subject to change as AI tools continue to develop.
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