AI Monsters: An application to student and faculty knowledge and perceptions of generative AI

Research into perceptions of artificial intelligence (AI) by faculty and students outside of specific disciplines has been relatively sparse. With the recent release of ChatGPT in November 2022, there have been numerous inquiries into the role of generative AI (GAI), in particular. While a timely response is important, so is ensuring that the responses that universities and faculty are implementing are evidence based. In the spring 2023 semester, the authors surveyed 380 students and 276 faculty. The quantitative data was analyzed with implications for higher education, including student-faculty trust, academic integrity, and uncertainty. This chapter is an analysis of the open-ended responses, using "Monster Theory" as a framework for understanding the themes that underlie the perceptions evident in the responses. The authors "demonsterize" AI. This is a mix of promoting literacy, ethical and transparent use, and developing language that is mindful about practices that may either empower or disempower individuals.