Yes, using artificial intelligence to complete academic work can be considered a form of plagiarism. There are many ways to utilize AI that do not constitute plagiarism. Ultimately, a professor and a school’s disciplinary bodies decide whether a student’s use of AI constitutes plagiarism, and if so, the sanctions that the student should face as a consequence.

Two definitions of plagiarism are “to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one’s own” or “use (another’s production) without crediting the source.” Using artificial intelligence to write a paper, for instance, clearly falls under these definitions of plagiarism.

The power of artificial intelligence to facilitate plagiarism is no secret in the educational arena. Professors who are keenly aware that students can now have AI write an entire paper with the click of a button are now using AI detectors, such as GPTZero, to identify plagiarized submissions.

If you or your student used AI to plagiarize, or have been unfairly accused of doing so, ruinous consequences could be looming. Do not wait to call the LLF National Law Firm Student Defense Team today at 888-535-3686 or contact us online for defense services proven to produce favorable results.

How Have Traditional Forms of Plagiarism Largely Given Way to AI-Powered Plagiarism?

Before artificial intelligence became students’ constant companion, plagiarism typically took the form of:

  • Finding someone else’s written work online, copying and pasting it, and submitting it as one’s own essay
  • Patching together a mosaic of other people’s work (a move used by plagiarizers who are more ambitious than average)
  • Paying a fellow student, professional essay writer, or other third party to write a paper on one’s behalf
  • Rewriting another student’s work in slightly original terms, which is considered a form of intellectual plagiarism
  • Re-submitting one’s past work, presenting it as an original creation

Most of these forms of plagiarism have been rendered obsolete by artificial intelligence. Instead of going through the effort of locating a relevant essay online or cribbing together passages written by other people, students can now simply feed ChatGPT or Claude their essay prompt and receive an “original,” tailor-made work in return.

However, while the work that ChatGPT returns appears original, other students might receive an eerily similar (or identical) output if they input the same prompt. This phenomenon can, and has, resulted in multiple students submitting similar essays that are clearly plagiarized through the use of AI.

What Are Some Examples of AI-Facilitated Behaviors That Constitute Plagiarism?

We just cited the primary example of AI-facilitated plagiarism, in which students simply input their essay prompt into a writing assistant and then submit the essay that Claude, ChatGPT, or their preferred AI platform spits out. Some other AI use cases that typically qualify as plagiarism are:

  • Putting another student’s essay into an AI writing platform, prompting the platform to rewrite the essay in new terms
  • Having AI rewrite a series of paragraphs ripped from others’ published writings, forming a cohesive (but plagiarized) essay
  • Translating foreign-language essays into English, then submitting those translated texts as one’s own work
  • Prompting AI to rewrite one’s own previously submitted work so that it does not trigger plagiarism checkers like Turnitin

These are just examples of how students might plagiarize written assignments. They might also use various AI resources to write code (that they are expected to write themselves), answer math problems, create citations, and complete other actions that might expose the student to allegations of plagiarism.

Quite simply, AI’s work is AI’s work. If a student passes that work off as their own, they are almost certainly committing plagiarism.

How Might I Use AI for Written Work Without Plagiarizing?

The use cases for AI are seemingly boundless. There are countless ways to use AI, including for writing assignments, that would not generally qualify as plagiarism, and those uses include:

  • To brainstorm: Joining a study group has long been a sign that a student is engaged, socially healthy, and committed to producing the best work possible. Professors typically condone group brainstorming sessions. AI has become an alternative to (and, for some, a complement to) peer brainstorming, and most professors allow students to generate ideas through collaboration with Claude.
  • As a research assistant: Artificial intelligence has made traditional search engines into relics, especially for students who know how to use tools like ChatGPT to maximum effect. Furthermore, several AI platforms specialize in helping users navigate scholarly sources, which makes them powerful research assistants.
  • As a grammar checker: Grammar checkers populate the browsers of most students, serving as the safety net that prevents period-less sentences, incoherent statements, and other errors from reaching the professor’s desk. These AI-powered resources are widely considered to be within the boundaries that differentiate acceptable behavior from misconduct.

These are some of the use cases that professors typically accept. Even so, it’s always smart to check with a professor before using AI in any capacity, as failing to do so increases the likelihood of misconduct allegations.

What Should I Do If I Am Accused of Using AI to Plagiarize?

The members of the LLF National Law Firm Student Defense Team have dedicated their careers to—as you probably guessed—student defense. We are the first team to call when you or your student is accused of plagiarism or any other type of misconduct.

Once you retain us, expect your representative from our Student Defense Team to:

  • Identify which of our two common client groups you fall within—those who have made mistakes, or those who have been accused of plagiarism (or another offense) without merit
  • Collect all the information, witness perspectives, and evidence we need to present the most vigorous defense we can
  • Counsel you about how you can contribute to your defense
  • Help you through any interviews, hearings, and other meetings related to the misconduct allegations

The road through disciplinary proceedings can be winding, nerve-wracking, and patience-testing. The process is considerably less difficult when we are leading the way.

Do not wait. Call the LLF National Law Firm Student Defense Team today at 888-535-3686 or contact us online. Our intake team is knowledgeable, helpful, and ready to speak with you right now.

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