An AI system is "a machine-based system that [...] infers how to generate outputs such as predictions, content, recommendations or decisions for explicit or implicit goals from the inputs it receives"(EU AI Act Art.3 No.1).

Generative AI is a sub-area of AI. It is characterized by the fact that it is able to independently generate completely new content that goes far beyond the predictions of non-generative AI. This is achieved through complex calculations of probabilities, paired with AI learning processes known as machine learning (ML) and based on huge amounts of data. The instructions to the AI as to what it should process or generate are known as prompting.

The currently most popular representatives of generative AI are LLMs(Large Language Models), which aim to generate and understand human language. LLMs include the well-known commercial conversational agents ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity etc., as well as the AI systems provided by HWG Ludwigshafen.

Many generative AI models are now multimodal: they can generate text from audio files or graphics or code or videos etc. from text. Despite these impressive capabilities, generative AI (just like non-generative AI) does not have (factual) knowledge.

The output (i.e. what the AI outputs as a result) that follows the input (i.e. what is entered by the user) is still generated exclusively on the basis of complex statistical probabilities. The objective of the system is not factual accuracy, but solely the output of coherent text (or clear images, etc.). This can lead to hallucinations, i.e. simply false assertions. Another problem is distortions or bias contained in the training data. Therefore, you need to check all outputs you receive from an AI not only for factual accuracy, but also for potentially more subtle bias.

The ability to communicate with these systems in human language (spoken or written) tempts us to attribute emotions, intelligence and knowledge to these systems that they do not actually possess, and also to forgive errors that would simply be seen as such in normal "machines". This is known as the ELIZA effect.

Similar to other PC applications or cell phone apps, AI systems also process user data. This includes login data such as email addresses, names, IP addresses or dates of birth, and possibly credit card details or places of residence. In the case of generative AI systems, the inputs to the systems can also be linked to this data, meaning that everything that is communicated to the AI or uploaded to the AI is assigned to the user.

If you would like to learn more about how AI and generative AI work, we recommend the free online course from the AI Campus "Introduction to AI".

The HWG Ludwigshafen provides all students, lecturers and employees with access to the generative AI systems on the platform of the "Edu-KI-Chat", which the Virtual Campus Rhineland-Palatinate (VCRP) offers for the Rhineland-Palatinate universities(Edu-KI-RLP). On this platform, you will find several free, generative AI models that deliver different outputs depending on the topic and prompt.

The generative AI systems on this platform can be used for all university tasks, especially for studies and education.
Edu-KI-RLP is specially tailored to academic needs.

Edu-KI-RLP is data protection-friendly in that the login takes place via Shibboleth, whereby the login data is encrypted and no link can be established between your login data and your chat history. Furthermore, chat content is not logged, cached or used for training purposes.

But please note: It goes without saying that you must also comply with data protection regulations when prompting and formulating your input on Edu-KI-RLP and also comply with the other requirements for legally compliant handling when using Edu-KI-RLP; for example, you must not enter any personal data!

You can access the platform and the generative AI systems with your usual login data via the following link: https://chat.edu-ki-rlp.de/login

Students, education staff and employees may use AI systems that are not provided by the HWG Ludwigshafen (e.g. ChatGPT, DeepL or AI products that use Google Cloud or Microsoft Azure) on their own responsibility for their studies or official tasks. If you do so, you must also comply with the guidelines "on the legally compliant use of AI systems at the HWG Ludwigshafen".

Students may not be obliged to use AI systems other than those provided by the HWG Ludwigshafen in their studies, education and examinations.

Provided that the requirements for legally compliant use (as well as the "Guidelines for the use of AI at the Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society" for lecturers and employees) are complied with, the university email address can be used for registration for the independent use of AI systems that are not provided by the Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society.

• Students, education staff and employees must attend a mandatory training course before using AI systems: The training consists of the module "Excursion into generative AI" and the module "What risks arise with ML?" from the course "Introduction to AI" of the AI Campus.
• Read the terms of use of the AI system you wish to use carefully and observe them for your use.
• To ensure the best possible data transfer security, you should establish a VPN connection if you are using the AI service from outside the university's IT networks.

• Check whether you want to use copyrighted material as input for the AI service. This applies, for example, to the input of illustrations, copies of texts and examination results.
  If this is the case, you must ensure its lawful use, e.g. by obtaining the author's consent, and document this in writing. §§Sections 44a, 44b UrhG may open up further possibilities for the use of copyright-protected content. Check the existence of the requirements individually in each case.
• You may not use personal data of third parties in accordance with Art. 4 para. 1 GDPR as input.
  This includes real name, contact details, email address, nationality, age, marital status, photo, audio or video recordings.
• You may not use any particularly sensitive personal data of third parties in accordance with Art. 9 para. 1 GDPR as input.
  This includes ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs or trade union membership as well as the processing of genetic or biometric data for the purpose of uniquely identifying a natural person, health data or data concerning a natural person's sex life or sexual orientation.
• Personal data of third parties must be anonymized before being used as input so that no conclusions can be drawn about the person.
• If AI services support decisions or assessments, you must document in a comprehensible manner that the decision is primarily based on human judgment and that it is therefore not an automated decision in individual cases in accordance with Art. 22 para. 2 GDPR is involved.
• When writing the input, applicable contractual agreements, legal requirements and internal university guidelines must be complied with to the best of our knowledge and belief. In particular, these are agreements on data protection, confidentiality, the protection of official secrets or legal requirements.
• Materials from confidential sources may not be used as input.

• Based on the responses of the AI service, no automated decisions pursuant to Art. 22 para. 1 GDPR which produce legal effects concerning the data subject or similarly significantly affect the data subject, for example in the case of labor and personnel law decisions.
  It must be ensured that the final decision-making authority lies with a natural person, e.g. yourself.
• When distributing or publishing the output of the AI system, it must be checked for copyright-protected content, which can arise, for example, if the AI produces coincidental similarities to existing works.
• If published texts are subject to editorial control and a responsible person can be identified, they do not have to be marked as AI-generated.
  Automated AI-generated texts that are published without prior control are to be labeled as AI-generated in accordance with Art. 50 para. 4 EU AI Act (examples of this are chatbots or automated social media posts).
• The output of the AI system should be checked according to scientific principles, including for technical accuracy. To this end, the procedures and guidelines for safeguarding good scientific practice of the HWG Ludwigshafen should be observed.

• You copy copyrighted works such as photographs or newspaper articles as input into an AI service.
  This use is not permitted without the consent of the copyright holder.
• You use personal or particularly sensitive personal data of third parties as part of an input, e.g. the real name, email address, ethnic origin, biometric or medical data.
  This use is not permitted. Personal data must be anonymized.
• You copy application documents, personal cover letters, CVs or other sensitive documents of third parties into the AI service in non-anonymized form as part of an input.
  This use is not permitted.
• You copy non-public documents such as tender submissions, self-disclosures or annual reports as input into an AI service.
  This use is not permitted without the consent of the person concerned.
• You copy examination results from students or trainees, such as written exam solutions or drawings, as input into an AI service to assist you with corrections.
  This use is not permitted.
• You use confidential materials such as committee minutes from closed meetings, non-public research results or classified information as part of an input.
  This use is not permitted.
• You carry out an automated assessment of documents using AI services that has a detrimental effect on the persons concerned and where you take the result from the AI service without comprehensive human assessment.
  This use is not permitted.

Students receive information on whether AI systems are permitted in courses and examinations and how the use of AI systems should be documented and the output marked via the responsible teaching staff and/or the guidelines of the Departments or degree programs.

Whether or not AI systems may be used in a course or examination is justified and decided by the lecturers. If the use of AI systems is permitted, it must be clear to you as a student that the responsibility for the entire text, including AI-based results or passages, lies with you as the author. As a student, you therefore have a duty to ensure that the content of the AI-generated text sections or other results is correct and communicatively appropriate.

The HWG Ludwigshafen has a university-wide standardized declaration of independence for the final thesis, which also provides information on the use of AI systems. The declaration of independence requires that the question of whether and which AI systems may be used in the thesis and how the output is documented is agreed with the first assessor. The declaration of independence can be found on the SSC website for the thesis.

Lecturers and lecturers will receive additional information and recommendations from the Departments of Studies and Education on the use of AI systems in teaching and examinationson the intranet (please register on the intranet beforehand).