Is it okay to use AI-generated images in my school project without telling anyone?

It depends entirely on your school's academic integrity policy, but in most cases, using AI-generated images without disclosure is considered a form of plagiarism or academic dishonesty. Schools treat undisclosed AI use similarly to copying from a source without citation. The core issue isn't that AI is inherently bad — it's that you're presenting work as your own creation when it isn't. Most universities updated their honor codes in 2024 and 2025 to explicitly address generative AI. A concrete example: a student at a large state university submitted a history presentation with AI-generated 'historical photographs' that looked convincingly old. The professor noticed inconsistent period details in the clothing and flagged it. The student got a zero on the assignment and had to attend an academic integrity workshop — not because they used AI, but because they didn't cite it. Here's the nuance most students miss: different professors have wildly different rules. Some ban AI entirely. Others encourage it but require a disclosure statement like 'Images generated using Midjourney, prompts available upon request.' A few actually teach prompt engineering as a research skill. The safest move is to ask each professor directly. A practical tip: keep a log of your prompts and the AI tool you used. If questions come up later, you can show exactly how you created the images. This also helps you learn what works. If your school doesn't have a clear AI policy yet, default to full transparency. It's always better to over-disclose than to defend an integrity violation. **Related**: How do I cite AI-generated content in MLA format? | Can teachers detect AI-generated images?