Language Generation
Write coherent, contextually appropriate text (essays, explanations, summaries, stories).
Adapt tone, style, and format for different audiences or purposes.
Translate, rephrase, and paraphrase across multiple languages and complexity levels.
Information Synthesis
Summarize long texts or datasets.
Extract key ideas or arguments from dense content.
Connect disparate concepts to suggest new approaches.
Ideation and Creativity Aid
Aid a human user in brainstorming ideas, solutions, titles, or research questions.
Generate original content—text, images, code, music, etc.—based on user prompts.
Assist with problem-solving by offering example approaches or interpretations.
Personalization and Adaptation
Tailor responses to user input, learning goals, or skill level.
Mimic different voices or genres (e.g., academic, informal, poetic).
Provide scaffolding or step-by-step instruction on complex tasks.
Conversational Interaction
Engage in sustained dialogue, simulating tutoring, feedback, or Socratic questioning.
Maintain context over multiple turns to support deeper exploration.
Offer clarification, elaboration, or examples on request.
Multimodal Generation
LLMs can generate not just text, but also code, charts, tables, slides, and more. Connection to image or video models allows image or video generation.
Can often interpret and respond to visual, audio, or structured data inputs.
Automation and Efficiency
Speed up drafting, editing, and formatting tasks.
Handle repetitive cognitive work (e.g., rewording, checklist creation, template generation).
Simulation and Roleplay
Emulate historical figures, interview subjects, or opposing viewpoints.
Support active learning through scenario-based exploration.
Provide low-risk environments for students to practice communication or decision-making.
As generative artificial intelligence is trained and connected to more systems, we will see these capabilities grow. For example, the first versions of ChatGPT could not search the internet, but now a search function has been added to ChatGPT language models, allowing them to retrieve and interact with information from the internet. So-called "agentic AI" is AI which can act as an autonomous "agent" via connection to other systems such as email, Slack, phones, tech support systems, sensor data, etc.
See "Using AI to Support Teaching and Learning" section in this guide for more use-cases and how Gonzaga faculty are using AI.