Concerns About Cheating
Humans have long relied on writing assistance powered by artificial intelligence to check spelling and grammar, predict text, translate or transcribe. Now, anyone with an internet connection can access an AI tool such as OpenAI or Moonbeam, give it a prompt and receive—in seconds—an essay written in humanlike prose.
Instructors who are concerned that students will use these tools to cheat may hold fast to in-class writing assessments or install surveillance tools to try to detect misconduct. But others argue those are fools’ errands. AI-generated prose is original, which prevents plagiarism software from detecting it.
A Gray Area
All the experts with whom Inside Higher Ed spoke said that students who submit essays that are completely composed by AI have crossed an ethical line. But they also said the gray area between acceptable and unacceptable uses of this evolving technology is vast.
Working With, Not Against, the Technology
Most (87 percent) of the North Carolina State students who "cheated" by integrating AI prose into their final course essay in Fyfe’s course reported that doing so was far more complicated than writing the paper themselves. That suggests that writing with computational assistance may be a collaboration—albeit with a nonhuman entity—that demands active intellectual labor on the part of the human.
Challenges Moving Forward
AI writing tools bring urgency to a pedagogical question: If a machine can produce prose that accomplishes the learning outcomes of a college writing assignment, what does that say about the assignment?
Conclusion
The integration of AI writing tools into the academic environment presents both opportunities and challenges. While some may see AI-generated prose as a means to cheat, others recognize the potential for AI to assist students in their writing processes. As the technology continues to evolve, it is essential that educators and administrators work together to develop guidelines and best practices for the responsible use of AI in academic writing.
FAQs
Q: What are the concerns about AI-generated prose?
A: Some instructors are concerned that students will use AI-generated prose to cheat, while others argue that AI-generated prose is original and cannot be detected by plagiarism software.
Q: Can AI-generated prose be used to cheat?
A: Yes, AI-generated prose can be used to cheat, but it is also possible to use AI-generated prose as a tool to assist in the writing process.
Q: How can educators and administrators address the challenges posed by AI-generated prose?
A: Educators and administrators can address the challenges posed by AI-generated prose by developing guidelines and best practices for the responsible use of AI in academic writing.
Q: What are the benefits of using AI-generated prose in academic writing?
A: The benefits of using AI-generated prose in academic writing include the potential for students to receive assistance in their writing processes, the potential for students to develop their critical thinking skills, and the potential for students to learn how to use AI-generated prose responsibly.
