According to an article in The Stanford Daily, the rise of ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence-powered chatbot, is causing concern among professors and students at Stanford University. In fact, some faculty members have already changed their courses because of how students might use ChatGPT for assignments and exams. And some students have already used the tool to assist with their work.

The article reports results from several informal polls, and the results demonstrate that for the students, at least, it is not cut and dry.

1. 17% of respondents replied (out of ~4,500) that they had used ChatGPT in some way with either fall quarter final assignments or exams.
2. ~60% of students who did use the tool used it to help brainstorm, outline, or form ideas
3. Only 22.7% (out of ~3600 students) believe that, under all circumstances, using ChatGPT violates the academic honor code at Stanford.

"Students are expected to complete coursework without unpermitted aid," University spokesperson Dee Mostofi told the newspaper. "In most courses, unpermitted aid includes AI tools like ChatGPT."

In light of the increasing use of ChatGPT in higher education, some colleges and universities, such as Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Vermont, Burlington, have already revised their academic integrity policies to include the usage of AI tools.

At Stanford, however, the Board of Judicial Affairs is still monitoring the tools and will be discussing their potential impact on the Honor Code.

How ChatGPT Could Impact Academic Misconduct Allegations

One concern to be aware of is that there is not currently any tool that can accurately determine whether or not something was created by machine learning or by a human 100% of the time. In many ways, the problems with AI detectors mirror some of the challenges with programs such as HonorLock. There's inbuilt bias and often "false positive" allegations that are actually unmerited.

One way students can protect themselves from allegations of academic misconduct resulting from the use of AI tools is by seeking the help of an attorney-advisor. An attorney-advisor can advise students on their rights and responsibilities and help them develop a defense strategy to contest the allegations. They can also assist students in gathering evidence and identifying any procedural errors in the investigation process. With an attorney-adviser's help, students can contest the allegations of academic misconduct and protect their academic records and future career prospects. An attorney-advisor can assist you every step of the way.

Excellent Academic Integrity Attorney-Advisor

The rise of ChatGPT and other AI tools has prompted a heated debate in the academic community, with some educators and institutions raising concerns about the future of academic integrity. Attorney-Advisor Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team have assisted countless students and their families across the nation in navigating academic dishonesty procedures and processes at the collegiate level. Contact them today at 888-535-3686 or reach out online to see how they can help.