As generative AI (GenAI) becomes more integrated into education and the workplace, tools like Gamma, which help create visually engaging presentations, are becoming essential for students and professionals. However, with this technological advancement comes the need for responsible and effective use. This literature review explores the research behind GenAI’s role in enhancing productivity, transforming research habits, and raising ethical concerns. We aim to base our instructional set for Gamma on a broader understanding of how GenAI affects learning and communication. Specifically, we ask: How can students use Gamma effectively while maintaining academic integrity and critical thinking? What opportunities and challenges does GenAI present for users learning new technologies?
Generative AI is already becoming a regular part of the workday for many professionals. A 2025 article from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis shows that GenAI tools are being actively used in the workforce: “9% of U.S. workers reported using it every workday and 14% for at least one but not every workday” (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, 2025). This supports the idea that such tools are not just a novelty but essential for productivity.
Gamma fits directly into this trend, offering users an intuitive way to build structured, engaging presentations using GenAI-generated layouts and text. These tools save users time, which is vital in academic and professional settings. The same article highlights that GenAI saved “an average of 5.4% of work hours” (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, 2025), or about 2.2 hours per week for a full-time worker. For students, this saved time could allow for more focus on revising content or preparing for delivery, tasks that need human input and critical thinking.
The ability of GenAI tools to assist in writing and content generation is increasingly being embraced in research fields. Almira Osmanovic Thunström, a neurobiologist interviewed in Nature, explained, "Scientists are not going to sit and write long introductions for grant applications anymore... They’re just going to ask systems to do that” (Else, 2023). This change in academic workflow illustrates how GenAI can reduce repetitive writing tasks, which directly parallels Gamma’s use in streamlining slide formatting and summarization.
Another researcher, Hafsteinn Einarsson, described GenAI as a type of digital assistant, stating, “Many people are using it as a digital secretary or assistant” (Else, 2023). These observations reinforce the idea that GenAI is best used not to replace the user’s thinking but to handle repetitive or time-consuming work. Our instructional set guides students to use Gamma to generate outlines and visuals while showing them how to refine and personalize their presentations for clarity and originality.
Using Gamma effectively also involves responsible research practices. According to the BCcampus Technical Writing textbook, students engaging in research must apply “the tools and techniques for doing research” to gather and evaluate information effectively (Walliman, as cited in BCcampus, n.d.). This also applies to Gamma users, since the tool can generate text and ideas based on prompts, but cannot ensure accuracy or academic honesty.
The same source emphasizes that “the more effective your research is, the more credible and persuasive your argument will be” (BCcampus, n.d.). This is a reminder that even when using an AI tool to draft or assist with content, the user must ensure the final product reflects original analysis and is supported by quality evidence.
Like all GenAI tools, Gamma operates within a larger ecosystem of data and technology that is reshaping society. The Brookings Institution reports, "Every single day, the connected world creates 44 exabytes of new data—an amount equal to three million Libraries of Congress” (Brookings Institution, 2023). Gamma’s AI engine, like others, relies on this data to generate its outputs. Understanding that Gamma is built on vast data sets reminds users that the content it creates may carry biases, assumptions, or outdated information.
Moreover, Brookings warns, "These rapid advances in technology and data analytics are having far-reaching consequences for jobs, the economy, society, and governance” (Brookings Institution, 2023). As a result, we designed our instructions not just to explain how to use Gamma, but to help students think critically about the role of AI in their academic work. Our guide addresses when AI use is appropriate, how to review AI outputs, and why human judgment remains essential.
Our research confirms that GenAI tools like Gamma offer clear benefits regarding time savings, creativity, and workflow assistance. However, they must be used responsibly. As GenAI's academic and professional use continues to grow, students need more than just technical guidance—they need frameworks for ethical use, research rigor, and critical engagement.
Our instructional set for Gamma incorporates these lessons by emphasizing using the tool efficiently and thoughtfully. Drawing from current research, we ensure that students learn how to generate slides and build meaningful, accurate, and responsible presentations with GenAI. This synthesis of function and ethics prepares students to complete a task and succeed in an AI-enhanced learning and working environment.