The short answer: yes—but only if you use it ethically and transparently.
The long answer: it depends on your university’s policies, how you use AI, and whether you maintain full ownership of the research process.
As someone who’s guided hundreds of postgraduate researchers and led teams at Go2Writers providing dissertation writing services for over a decade, I’ve seen AI become a powerful assistant—but it is not a substitute for scholarly thinking, original research, and rigorous academic standards.
Where does AI help?
- You can use it for brainstorming and scoping as it can help you explore topic angles, identify variables, and suggest frameworks or methodologies. It’s useful for getting unstuck early on.
- It can be used as a structuring and outlining tool that can suggest logical section flows, headings, and transitional language that improves clarity.
- You can use it in editing and polishing your grammar, coherence, and tone improvements as long as the underlying ideas and evidence are yours.
- You can use it for summarizing sources you’ve already read, but never rely on it to “read” sources for you. Always verify quotes, data, and citations against the original texts.
How AI may put you at risk
- When used for evidence and citations, as most AI tools tend to hallucinate facts, misattribute studies, and fabricate references. In academic work, that’s unacceptable.
- When used for methodology and analysis. You and your supervisor must own the research design, data handling, and interpretation. AI can only be used to support calculations or coding, but it can’t be the researcher of record.
- Dissertations demand a unique contribution to knowledge. However, AI-generated text often reads generic and can weaken your scholarly voice.
- Many universities restrict or require disclosure of AI assistance. Non-compliance can trigger academic misconduct procedures.
What we recommend for you in practice
- Treat AI like a research assistant, not a ghostwriter. Use it to draft outlines, suggest improvements, or check clarity, but keep the intellectual heavy lifting yours.
- Document your process. For instance, keep notes on where AI assisted you in case your department requests an AI-use statement.
- Verify everything. If AI provides a reference or statistic, trace it to a peer-reviewed source and cite that—not the AI.
- Maintain your voice. Supervisors can tell when a chapter suddenly shifts style. Consistency matters in evaluation and defense.
- Use institutionally approved tools. Some programs specify or restrict software in data analysis and writing.
- Follow your university’s policy: Many allow AI for grammar, formatting, or brainstorming—with disclosure. Some require a methods note or an appendix stating the tools used and how.
Note that universities and exam boards tend to vary by country and even by department. For instance, the UK Russell Group institutions, US R1 universities, Canadian tri-council–aligned programs, EU frameworks, and Australian Group of Eight schools all issue evolving guidance on AI.
As a result, the advice you find online may not match what your committee expects. At Go2Writers, however, we tailor our dissertation and AI guidance to your institution and field, ensuring compliance with local policies and disciplinary standards. If you want AI in the loop, we help you use it transparently and effectively—never as a shortcut that jeopardizes integrity.
If you want tailored advice for your university and discipline, reach out to Go2Writers—we’ll help you leverage AI responsibly while producing a dissertation you can defend with confidence.