{"id":1691,"date":"2025-09-26T10:28:07","date_gmt":"2025-09-26T09:28:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/?p=1691"},"modified":"2026-02-13T09:03:30","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T09:03:30","slug":"the-effort-paradox-and-genai-why-easy-isnt-always-better","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2025\/09\/26\/the-effort-paradox-and-genai-why-easy-isnt-always-better\/","title":{"rendered":"The Effort Paradox and GenAI: Why easy is not always better"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 class=\"text-xl font-bold text-text-100 mt-1 -mb-0.5\">The curious case of wanting what we avoid<\/h2>\n<p class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">Picture this: You are facing a challenging assignment, and you have two options. Option A: Ask GenAI to write it for you- clean, fast, effortless. Option B: Use GenAI as a thinking partner to wrestle through the ideas yourself- messy, slow, demanding.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">If you are human (which, I am guessing you are), your brain is probably screaming \"Option A!\". But here is where things get fascinating: the very effort you are trying to avoid might be exactly what makes learning meaningful, memorable, and transformative.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">Welcome to the Effort Paradox, one of psychology's most intriguing discoveries that is revolutionising how we think about learning, achievement, and yes, our relationship with GenAI.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"text-xl font-bold text-text-100 mt-1 -mb-0.5\">What is the Effort Paradox?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">The effort paradox reveals a fundamental contradiction in human behaviour: while we typically avoid effort as costly and aversive, effort is also valued and actively pursued. We simultaneously flee from hard work and find it deeply satisfying when we engage with it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">Think about it:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"[&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc space-y-1.5 pl-7\">\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">You groan about starting that difficult assignment but feel incredibly proud when you finally crack the complex argument.<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">You avoid the gym but experience a rush of accomplishment after a challenging workout.<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">You procrastinate on learning new software but feel genuinely excited when you master it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">As cognitive psychologist Robert Bjork discovered with \"desirable difficulties\": when learning feels effortful, it is actually more effective. Easy feels good, but hard sticks better. The more you struggle strategically, the more likely you are to retain, grow, and improve.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"text-xl font-bold text-text-100 mt-1 -mb-0.5\">The GenAI dilemma: Effort avoidance in the age of Artificial Intelligence<\/h2>\n<p class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">Enter GenAI, the ultimate effort-reduction machine. Need a literature review? Done in minutes. Want a research proposal? Generated instantly. Struggling with data analysis? AI's got your back.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">But here is the plot twist: by removing all the effort from learning, we might be inadvertently removing all the learning from learning.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"text-lg font-bold text-text-100 mt-1 -mb-1.5\">The Easy Button Trap<\/h3>\n<p class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">When we use GenAI to eliminate cognitive effort entirely, we fall into what I call the \"Easy Button Trap\":<\/p>\n<ul class=\"[&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc space-y-1.5 pl-7\">\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">Surface Learning: You get information without developing understanding.<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">Capability Atrophy: Your analytical muscles weaken from disuse.<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">Confidence Collapse: Without effortful practice, you lose faith in your own abilities.<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">Meaning Deficit: Achievements feel hollow when they require no struggle.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">The irony? Current models suggest that exerting cognitive effort is aversive, and people avoid it whenever possible, yet this avoidance might be sabotaging the very outcomes we're seeking.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"text-xl font-bold text-text-100 mt-1 -mb-0.5\">Flipping the script: GenAI as your effort amplifier<\/h2>\n<p class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">But what if we've been thinking about this all wrong? What if instead of using GenAI to eliminate effort, we used it to make our efforts more productive, more focused, and more meaningful?<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"text-lg font-bold text-text-100 mt-1 -mb-1.5\">The Productive Struggle Framework<\/h3>\n<p class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">Here's how to harness the effort paradox with GenAI:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">Use GenAI to frame better challenges: Instead of asking: \"Write my essay on climate policy\" Try: \"Help me identify the most challenging counterarguments to my thesis on carbon taxation, then question my reasoning until I can defend it sophisticatedly\".<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">Leverage GenAI for effortful practice: Instead of: \"Solve this statistics problem for me\" Try: \"Walk me through solving this step-by-step but make me explain each decision before revealing the next step\".<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">Create cognitive resistance: Instead of: \"Summarise these 20 research papers\" Try: \"Help me develop a framework for analysing these papers myself, then challenge my interpretations as I work through them\".<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">Design desirable difficulties: Instead of: \"Generate research questions for my project\" Try: \"Act as a devil's advocate for my research ideas, pushing me to refine and strengthen them through systematic challenge\".<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2 class=\"text-xl font-bold text-text-100 mt-1 -mb-0.5\">The transformative power of strategic struggle<\/h2>\n<p class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">When you flip from effort avoidance to strategic effort investment, something magical happens:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li class=\"text-lg font-bold text-text-100 mt-1 -mb-1.5\">Deeper Learning Occurs: Your brain forms stronger neural pathways when it has to work for understanding. The struggle literally rewires you for better thinking.<\/li>\n<li class=\"text-lg font-bold text-text-100 mt-1 -mb-1.5\">Confidence Genuinely Builds: Nothing beats the authentic confidence that comes from knowing you have wrestled with ideas and emerged stronger. AI-generated work might fool others, but it cannot fool your subconscious sense of competence.<\/li>\n<li class=\"text-lg font-bold text-text-100 mt-1 -mb-1.5\">Creativity Explodes: Effortful thinking generates unexpected connections, novel insights, and creative breakthroughs that passive consumption simply cannot match.<\/li>\n<li class=\"text-lg font-bold text-text-100 mt-1 -mb-1.5\">Resilience Develops: Every time you push through intellectual difficulty, you build your tolerance for complexity and uncertainty, crucial skills for professional success.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2 class=\"text-xl font-bold text-text-100 mt-1 -mb-0.5\">Practical strategies for university life<\/h2>\n<h3 class=\"text-lg font-bold text-text-100 mt-1 -mb-1.5\">For assignments and projects<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"[&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc space-y-1.5 pl-7\">\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">Use GenAI to identify gaps in your argument, not fill them.<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">Ask GenAI to challenge your thesis with the strongest possible counterarguments.<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">Get GenAI to play devil's advocate throughout your development process.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"text-lg font-bold text-text-100 mt-1 -mb-1.5\">For research<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"[&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc space-y-1.5 pl-7\">\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">Let GenAI help you formulate better questions rather than find easy answers.<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">Use GenAI to simulate peer review of your ideas.<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">Ask GenAI to expose weaknesses in your methodology before you finalise it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"text-lg font-bold text-text-100 mt-1 -mb-1.5\">For problem-solving<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"[&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc space-y-1.5 pl-7\">\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">Get GenAI to create increasingly challenging variations of problems you are learning to solve.<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">Use GenAI as a tutor that makes you explain your reasoning at each step.<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">Ask GenAI to identify where your problem-solving approach might break down.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"text-lg font-bold text-text-100 mt-1 -mb-1.5\">For skill development<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"[&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc space-y-1.5 pl-7\">\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">Use GenAI to design personalised practice challenges that push your current abilities.<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">Get GenAI to provide immediate feedback on your efforts, not completed solutions.<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">Ask GenAI to help you reflect on and improve your learning process.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"text-xl font-bold text-text-100 mt-1 -mb-0.5\">The metacognitive revolution<\/h2>\n<p class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">Here is the deepest insight: the effort paradox reveals dissonance between the normative implications of effort and individual motivations to choose effortful tasks. Understanding this paradox makes you more conscious of your learning choices.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">When you feel yourself gravitating toward the easy GenAI solution, pause and ask:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"[&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc space-y-1.5 pl-7\">\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">What am I trying to achieve, quick completion or genuine competence?<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">How can I use GenAI to make this more challenging rather than less?<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">What would effortful engagement look like here?<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">How can I design productive struggle into this task?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"text-xl font-bold text-text-100 mt-1 -mb-0.5\">Your learning revolution starts now<\/h2>\n<p class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">The effort paradox is not just an academic curiosity; it's a blueprint for transforming your relationship with both learning and GenAI. Instead of asking \"How can GenAI make this easier?\", start asking \"How can GenAI make my efforts more productive?\"<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">Remember: easy feels good in the moment, but effort creates lasting transformation. The more you struggle (strategically), the more likely you are to retain, grow, and improve.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">The choice is yours:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"[&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc space-y-1.5 pl-7\">\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">Use GenAI as a shortcut to bypass intellectual challenge.<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">Use GenAI as a catalyst to amplify intellectual engagement.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">One path leads to temporary convenience. The other leads to lasting capability.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">Which will you choose?<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"text-xl font-bold text-text-100 mt-1 -mb-0.5\">Ready to embrace productive struggle?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">Start with something manageable this week- your time management:<\/p>\n<ol class=\"[&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-decimal space-y-1.5 pl-7\">\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">Instead of asking GenAI: \"Create a study schedule for me\".<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">Try this: \"Help me analyse why my current time management is not working, then challenge my assumptions about productivity until I can design a personalised system that actually fits my habits and goals\".<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">Notice how much more ownership you feel over the solution you have wrestled to create.<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">Reflect on what you learned about your own working patterns and decision-making process.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p class=\"whitespace-normal break-words\">The effort paradox reveals a profound truth: the struggles we avoid might be exactly what we need to become who we want to be. In the age of GenAI, this insight is not just helpful, it is revolutionary.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The curious case of wanting what we avoid Picture this: You are facing a challenging assignment, and you have two options. Option A: Ask GenAI to write it for you- clean, fast, effortless. Option B: Use GenAI as a thinking...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":298,"featured_media":1056,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[42,91,89,61,43,342,359,152,353],"tags":[344,285,46,116,125,288,287,228,340,302],"class_list":["post-1691","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academic-integrity","category-academic-skills","category-critical-thinking","category-digital-skills","category-ethical-scholar","category-genai","category-philosophy-of-life","category-reflective-learning","category-wellbeing","tag-academic-integrity","tag-artificial-intelligence","tag-critical-thinking","tag-digital-skills","tag-digital-wellbeing","tag-genai","tag-generative-artificial-intelligence","tag-independent-learning","tag-microsoft-copilot","tag-skills-enhancement"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2023\/09\/GenAI-Info-page-banner.png","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1053,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2023\/09\/18\/how-to-navigate-generative-artificial-intelligence-genai-tools-with-confidence-and-integrity\/","url_meta":{"origin":1691,"position":0},"title":"How to navigate Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) tools with confidence and integrity","author":"Kevin Renfrew","date":"September 18, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Artificial intelligence (AI) is advancing rapidly, and new Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) tools like Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude, Elicit, Perplexity, and Bard are now easily accessible online. As university students, how can you incorporate these emerging technologies into your studies and campus life confidently and responsibly? Here are some guiding principles.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Academic integrity&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Academic integrity","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/category\/academic-integrity\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A series of three stylised Generative Artificial Intelligence illustrations: 1) A circular blue tech-inspired pattern with concentric rings and digital elements. 2) A dark and light blue illustration showing a robotic figure reaching out of a laptop computer to access GenAI. 3) A blue robotic hand reaching out to a human hand, suggesting connection or assistance.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2023\/09\/GenAI-Info-page-banner.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2023\/09\/GenAI-Info-page-banner.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2023\/09\/GenAI-Info-page-banner.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2023\/09\/GenAI-Info-page-banner.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1226,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2024\/06\/03\/bias-proof-your-genai-strategies-to-mitigate-algorithmic-and-human-biases\/","url_meta":{"origin":1691,"position":1},"title":"Navigating the GenAI Landscape: From Bias to Prompts: Key Insights and Strategies for Student","author":"Kevin Renfrew","date":"June 3, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"As the University embraces the power of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI), we've taken proactive steps to equip you with the knowledge and skills to navigate this rapidly evolving landscape. Over the last month, using the University of Bath Instagram account we've conducted a series of Instagram Quiz and Poll Stories,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Academic integrity&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Academic integrity","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/category\/academic-integrity\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A series of three stylised Generative Artificial Intelligence illustrations: 1) A circular blue tech-inspired pattern with concentric rings and digital elements. 2) A dark and light blue illustration showing a robotic figure reaching out of a laptop computer to access GenAI. 3) A blue robotic hand reaching out to a human hand, suggesting connection or assistance.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2023\/09\/GenAI-Info-page-banner.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2023\/09\/GenAI-Info-page-banner.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2023\/09\/GenAI-Info-page-banner.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2023\/09\/GenAI-Info-page-banner.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1535,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2025\/04\/15\/mastering-genai-your-personal-development-roadmap-bath\/","url_meta":{"origin":1691,"position":2},"title":"Mastering GenAI: Your Personal Development Roadmap @Bath","author":"Kevin Renfrew","date":"April 15, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Understanding our approach: Miller's Pyramid Before we dive in, let's talk about the framework behind this guide. We're using Miller's Pyramid, a groundbreaking model originally developed by George Miller in 1990 for medical education. Developing knowledge and competencies in new technologies can be challenging, which is why this powerful framework\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Academic integrity&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Academic integrity","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/category\/academic-integrity\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Miller Pyramid for GenAI Competencies in Higher Education. The pyramid shows progression from novice to expert along the vertical axis labeled 'Professional authenticity' and is divided into four sections representing Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes. From bottom to top: 1) Base level (pink): 'Knows' corresponds to 'Know the Basics (Fact Gathering)'; 2) Second level (yellow): 'Knows How' corresponds to 'Apply Your Knowledge (Interpretation)'; 3) Third level (dark blue): 'Shows How' corresponds to 'Demonstrate Your Skills (Controlled Practice)'; 4) Top level (teal): 'Does' corresponds to 'Real-World Application (Authentic Practice)'. The graphic illustrates how students develop GenAI competencies from basic knowledge acquisition to authentic application in real-world contexts","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/04\/Graphic-Miller-Pyramid-for-GenAI-Competencies-in-HE.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/04\/Graphic-Miller-Pyramid-for-GenAI-Competencies-in-HE.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/04\/Graphic-Miller-Pyramid-for-GenAI-Competencies-in-HE.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/04\/Graphic-Miller-Pyramid-for-GenAI-Competencies-in-HE.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1462,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2025\/02\/10\/finding-your-balance-navigating-academic-anxiety-with-genai-tools\/","url_meta":{"origin":1691,"position":3},"title":"Finding Your Balance: Navigating Academic Anxiety with GenAI Tools","author":"Kevin Renfrew","date":"February 10, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Let's talk about something that's probably familiar to many of you, that knot in your stomach before a big presentation, the late-night worry about dissertation deadlines, or the overwhelming feeling when you're staring at a blank page that's supposed to become your next essay. You're not alone in this. Academic\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Academic integrity&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Academic integrity","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/category\/academic-integrity\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A series of three stylised Generative Artificial Intelligence illustrations: 1) A circular blue tech-inspired pattern with concentric rings and digital elements. 2) A dark and light blue illustration showing a robotic figure reaching out of a laptop computer to access GenAI. 3) A blue robotic hand reaching out to a human hand, suggesting connection or assistance.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2023\/09\/GenAI-Info-page-banner.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2023\/09\/GenAI-Info-page-banner.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2023\/09\/GenAI-Info-page-banner.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2023\/09\/GenAI-Info-page-banner.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1627,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2025\/06\/04\/why-your-brain-makes-genai-ethics-harder-than-it-should-be-and-what-to-do-about-it\/","url_meta":{"origin":1691,"position":4},"title":"Why your brain makes GenAI ethics harder than it should be (and what to do about it)","author":"Kevin Renfrew","date":"June 4, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"A psychological perspective on academic integrity in the age of artificial intelligence Let us talk about something that is probably been on your mind lately: using Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) tools like Copilot for your work. If you are feeling confused about where the ethical lines are drawn, you are\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Academic integrity&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Academic integrity","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/category\/academic-integrity\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A series of three stylised Generative Artificial Intelligence illustrations: 1) A circular blue tech-inspired pattern with concentric rings and digital elements. 2) A dark and light blue illustration showing a robotic figure reaching out of a laptop computer to access GenAI. 3) A blue robotic hand reaching out to a human hand, suggesting connection or assistance.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2023\/09\/GenAI-Info-page-banner.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2023\/09\/GenAI-Info-page-banner.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2023\/09\/GenAI-Info-page-banner.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2023\/09\/GenAI-Info-page-banner.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1542,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2025\/04\/24\/student-guidance-on-the-ethical-and-legal-use-of-genai\/","url_meta":{"origin":1691,"position":5},"title":"Student Guidance on the Ethical and Legal use of GenAI","author":"Kevin Renfrew","date":"April 24, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) presents both opportunities and challenges for students in higher education. GenAI tools are software applications that use artificial intelligence to generate content, such as text, images, or music, based on input data. Examples include large language models, such as GPT-4, image generators, and music composition tools.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Critical thinking&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Critical thinking","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/category\/capabilities-framework\/critical-thinking\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A series of three stylised Generative Artificial Intelligence illustrations: 1) A circular blue tech-inspired pattern with concentric rings and digital elements. 2) A dark and light blue illustration showing a robotic figure reaching out of a laptop computer to access GenAI. 3) A blue robotic hand reaching out to a human hand, suggesting connection or assistance.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2023\/09\/GenAI-Info-page-banner.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2023\/09\/GenAI-Info-page-banner.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2023\/09\/GenAI-Info-page-banner.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2023\/09\/GenAI-Info-page-banner.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1691","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/298"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1691"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1691\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1056"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1691"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1691"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1691"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}