Cheating in school is as old as school itself. And many can agree that stealing someone else's work and submitting it as your own isn't acceptable on assigned work. But what happens when the work is the product of artificial intelligence? With the onset of easy-to-use generative artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT, many teachers and professors have raised the alarm about the potential for cheating in school.

Of course, fear that students will use AI tools inappropriately has given rise to a wave of new AI detection tools, some more accurate than others. Students across the country are facing cheating accusations that may be unfounded. If you or your child is facing cheating allegations, you need help from the national Education Law Team at the Lento Law Firm. Call them today at 888-535-3686 or reach out online.

How Students React to Cheating Accusations

Being accused of academic misconduct can be devastating, particularly if the allegations are false. A new study from Drexel University looks at how cheating accusations affect students. The study was part of a series on generative AI in the journal Learning: Research & Practice. Drexel's Tim Gorichanaz, Ph.D., an assistant teaching professor in the university's College of Computing and Informatics, analyzed 49 Reddit posts by students accused of cheating by using ChatGPT on an assignment. In examining the discussions of these posts, he found several themes:

• Frustration from wrongly accused students,
• Anxiety about wrongful accusations,
• How to prevent wrongful accusations of cheating, and
• Cynicism about the need for higher education in the age of AI.

Of the 49 posts Gorichanaz evaluated, 38 students said they did not use ChatGPT but that AI-detection software GPTZero or Turnitin had flagged their assignments as generated by AI. Many students expressed concern that AI detectors are unreliable and worried about how to present evidence that they hadn't cheated. Gorichanaz told Science Daily, “Some discussions went into great detail about how students could collect evidence to prove that they had written an essay without AI, including tracking draft versions and using screen recording software. Others suggested running a detector on their own writing until it came back without being incorrectly flagged.”

Students also rightly raised the high stakes that an accusation of cheating can create, with colleges and universities seen as “gatekeepers” to higher education and success in life. Many colleges are ill-prepared to deal with the onset of artificial intelligence, and AI detectors are still largely inaccurate. That's why students wrongly accused of cheating must be prepared to defend themselves.

You Need Experienced Education Law Defense

If you or a child are facing accusations of cheating using artificial intelligence, it can be challenging to raise an effective defense. However, the consequences of an academic disciplinary action can be serious. That's why you need the skilled Education Law Team at the Lento Law Firm. Call us today at 888-535-3686 or contact the Lento Law Firm online to schedule a consultation.