1.3.3 Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools

1.3 Academic Standards of Conduct

HBS recognizes that artificial intelligence (AI) tools are increasingly integrated into academic, professional, and everyday work. The School supports the thoughtful, ethical, and responsible use of AI in ways that enhance learning, foster sound judgment, and prepare students for leadership in an AI-enabled world, consistent with the Community Values, MBA Honor Code, and the expectations outlined in this policy.

The use of generative AI and AI-enabled tools raises important considerations related to academic integrity, intellectual property, privacy, data security, and the development of independent judgment. Students are responsible for understanding and complying with all applicable HBS and Harvard University policies governing the use of these tools. Students are also responsible for understanding and complying with the AI policies and requirements applicable to each of their courses. Because AI technologies, regulations, and institutional practices continue to evolve, HBS may update its policies periodically, and students are expected to remain informed of current expectations.

Program-wide Policies

  • Students must obtain explicit permission from the faculty member of the applicable course before using generative AI or AI-enabled tools to complete any assignment, assessment, or other work that will be submitted for evaluation or used as a basis for grading. This includes final papers, projects, and examinations.

  • Students may not represent AI-generated content, analysis, ideas or other substantive outputs as their own independent work. Consistent with 1.3.2 Citing Sources and Plagiarism, students must disclose and appropriately cite the use of generative AI and AI-enabled tools in accordance with the HBS Citation Guide and any course-specific requirements. Not doing so violates the MBA Honor Code, just as would failing to cite any other source.

    • For example, when AI-generated insights, information, analysis, or content contribute to permitted written work, students must acknowledge that use in accordance with applicable citation requirements.

  • Students may use generative AI and AI-enabled tools in preparation for exams, subject to existing policies.

  • Students may use generative AI and AI-enabled tools in preparation for class discussions and in reflection after them (e.g. for case analysis, suggesting comments to make in class, and summarizing case points), unless faculty specifically prohibit their use (which they may do at any time). As with all sources of information outside of assigned material, students should develop their own skills in case analysis and managerial judgment and not use these tools to undermine the educational value of the discussion of course materials.

  • Consistent with the 1.3.4 Classroom Recording, Photography & Social Media and Section 4.1 Information Technology policies, students should not use AI tools during class discussions, unless faculty have provided explicit information.

  • Students are responsible for any content that they produce or publish that includes AI-generated material: AI-generated content can be inaccurate, misleading, or entirely fabricated (sometimes called “hallucinations”), or may contain copyrighted material. Students must review all AI-generated content very carefully, recognizing that they are ultimately responsible for the accuracy of any work they submit.

  • Protect confidential data: Students should not enter data classified as confidential (Level 2 and above), including non-public research data, into publicly-available generative AI tools, in accordance with the University’s Information Security Policy. Information shared with generative AI tools using default settings is not private and could expose proprietary or sensitive information to unauthorized parties.

  • Students may upload assigned course materials, including faculty-produced slides, HBS case studies and other copyrighted course materials that they are licensed to use to only the private, HBS-provided AI tools (that is, not to public tools), in accordance with Harvard University copyright policies, unless faculty direct otherwise for their specific course.

  • The use of AI tools to record, transcribe, summarize, or otherwise capture class discussions, including any remote sessions or any form of remote participation, is not allowed.

In addition to the information listed in this policy, all HBS students are expected to understand and follow the guidance for the responsible use of AI tools that have been issued by Harvard University and by HBS.