'I massively regret using AI to cheat at uni'

Hannah, a university student, found herself in a difficult situation during her first year of studies. After falling ill with Covid, she faced two important deadlines that were very close together. Feeling overwhelmed and under immense pressure to perform well, she turned to artificial intelligence (AI) for help with one of her essays. Now, Hannah, which is not her real name, is sharing her story to warn other students about the potential consequences of using AI to cheat in university. She was called before an academic misconduct panel, which has the authority to expel students found guilty of cheating. This incident highlights the challenges universities face as they strive to teach students about AI while also discouraging dishonest practices. Hannah's use of AI was discovered when her lecturer routinely scanned her essay with detection software. She recalled, 'My stomach was in knots as I waited outside the office. I thought to myself, 'this was really stupid. ' When her tutor reviewed her essay, he pointed out that it started strong but then deteriorated significantly. Hannah received a score of zero and was informed via email that there were concerns about academic misconduct. Initially, she considered denying the allegations, but when she saw the high AI percentage on the screen, she broke down and admitted to using AI to complete her essay. Fortunately for her, the panel concluded that there was insufficient evidence to take further action, despite her admission. Hannah felt that this was merely a warning to her and other students. 'I could have been expelled,' she said. 'I deeply regret my decision. I was achieving well and receiving many top grades, but the pressure to maintain that level pushed me to use AI. ' She also noted that being in her first year likely influenced the panel's decision not to pursue the matter further. Ultimately, she felt that the experience tainted her first year at university. So, what exactly is AI? Generative AI is a technology that allows computers to create content by learning from the information around them and determining the best response based on that knowledge. Universities are working to understand the capabilities of AI applications and are developing guidelines for their use. Some universities have strict bans on AI unless explicitly authorized, while others permit its use for identifying grammatical errors or vocabulary issues, as long as students properly cite and reference any generative AI content used in their assessments. At a bar near Canterbury, students discussed their views on AI. One student named Taylor expressed, 'You’ve got to embrace it. It can help you with questions and guide you in structuring your work. It's also useful for exam preparation. ' Another student, Zyren, shared her frustration with a friend who relied heavily on AI. 'They openly admitted to using AI and even copied and pasted an essay from Chat GPT. I felt annoyed because it seemed unfair that they might receive a higher score than me. ' Universities UK, an organization representing university vice-chancellors and principals, acknowledged the potential risks associated with AI tools in exams and assessments. They stated, 'Universities are aware of the potential risks posed by AI tools in the context of exams and assessment. All institutions have codes of conduct that include severe penalties for students found to be submitting work that is not their own, engaging with students from day one on the implications of cheating and how it can be avoided. ' A spokesperson from the Department for Education remarked, 'Generative AI has great potential to transform the Higher Education sector and provides exciting opportunities for growth. However, integrating it into teaching, learning, and assessment will require careful consideration. Universities must determine how to harness the benefits and mitigate the risks to prepare students for the jobs of the future.