AI Disclosure

I have used artificial intelligence tools throughout the development of this project, both in building the website and as part of the authoring process. Writing my own freely available calculus textbook was something I had previously only dreamed of doing, and AI tools have helped me finally make it a reality. I recognize that there are ongoing ethical and environmental concerns surrounding the development and use of AI; nevertheless, I believe that thoughtful, informed, and transparent use of these tools, particularly in service of education, is justified when also accompanied by care and critical judgment. Those of us who develop and use AI have a responsibility to do so ethically, and we must insist that the technology be made increasingly efficient so that its environmental impact can be minimized.

The underlying website architecture was developed with the assistance of AI coding tools through an iterative process of designing, testing, revising, and debugging. This assistance has been especially important in making the textbook interactive, including the gradual-release Explore sections, embedded Desmos demonstrations, and the development of a custom scripting language for randomized exercises. AI has also served as an authoring tool, helping me brainstorm examples and exercises, consider different ways of organizing material, compare possible wording, and catch typographical and mathematical errors. This process takes the form of an iterative dialogue guided by my mathematical and pedagogical goals, which determine the topics and organization of the textbook, what students are asked to explore, and how ideas are developed and explained. Suggestions and drafts are carefully evaluated, then incorporated, extensively revised or rewritten, or rejected altogether. I develop the mathematical content and write the final wording of most of the text.

Most importantly, the mathematical and pedagogical vision of this textbook is my own, and I personally stand behind everything that appears in the finished text. AI has been and continues to be a powerful tool in the creation of this project, but responsibility for the final work is mine.