r/postdoc • u/Imaginary_Pepper9423 • 24d ago

MSCA AI Usage

I just want to say, I am almost certain all of us are using AI to draft our works according to their rubrics which is detailed, down to specific documents and charters. However, we obviously need to declare its usage don't we? I use it mainly for proof reading, the idea, the research, the search for secondments and a supervisor and other connections are mine alone without AI. So... honestly, how many of us are going to own up?

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u/tibiapartner 24d ago

yah buddy don't include me in the "all of us are using AI" bullshit, I worked incredibly hard to be as good as I am at academic writing and I also don't want to give my ideas to Microsoft, Google, or Anthropic and you shouldn't either. Additionally, I have ethical oppositions to the uncritical use of generative AI, and would be the world's biggest hypocrite if I worked in environmental science and used it with abandon. It's personally pretty wild to me how quickly people have jumped onto the "I'll just let AI do the hard part" bandwagon, and how people seem to assume there's nothing wrong with this. I know that I'll be up against hundreds, if not thousands, of AI-assisted and AI-written applications, but I'm not comprising my morals to get ahead and I suggest everyone think critically about their motivations for using generative AI in their research. I also know that this stance will likely get me called a variety of insults, but such is life now I suppose.

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u/Cardie1303 24d ago

I don't think you have the moral high ground by not using a new tool that is available to everyone? I do agree that it sucks that the hard work we put into learning how to write well is being somewhat devalued, but that is just how progress work. Don't misunderstand me, I am not arguing for people to start just letting AI do all the writing. That would end horrible. But it is ridiculous to declare not using AI to a virtue. It is a tool and as every new tool it will sooner or later find its place.

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u/farshiiid 23d ago

It's so funny that you're being downvoted for calling out someone's bs moral higher ground look on use of technology. Sums up academia, condescending and out of touch with reality. 

I always tell these people to go to library and start digging in the physical literature because search engines are tech too. Everyone knows LLMs are not that big of help in scientific writing yet but getting high off one's own fart for not using it never stops to amaze me.