Once upon a time—not so long ago—artificial intelligence (AI) was the stuff of sci-fi novels and movies. These days, however, the modern college student finds itself on the front lines of a rapidly evolving landscape, one in which a once-fictional concept is now causing major, real-life headaches for everyone involved.  

Students at the University of Oregon (UO) are just some of those who feel this evolution's effects first-hand. Here, conflicting rules about AI are confusing and raise many important questions about privacy, legality, and the need for standard AI rules in higher education.  

If you have concerns about AI in education, we want to hear from you. Call the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team today at 1(888) 535-3686 or contact us online, and let us help defend your rights during this evolving process. 

Plagiarism vs. The Falsely Accused  

Finding and punishing the students using AI to cheat has become quite the ordeal on college campuses. A witch hunt that has many students rightfully concerned that they'll be wrongfully caught in the crosshairs. 

Occasionally, fighting fire with fire can help mitigate damages, but unfortunately, anti-plagiarism programs aren't helping at all in this situation. In one recent study, researchers discovered that nearly 80% of students who claimed they did not use AI software to complete an assignment were still wrongly flagged by anti-plagiarism software.  

With the cost of college going through the roof, students are rightly concerned that wrongful allegations of AI misuse could seriously affect a grading policy and their futures.  

AI Is a Major Privacy and Data Security Concern 

College universities are increasingly turning to AI-powered systems to automate tasks that streamline everything from menial input tasks to administrative decision-making jobs. This involves collecting and processing vast amounts of personal information, and many students are rightfully concerned about privacy.  

Security for these systems isn't always what it should be and often jeopardizes student privacy. For example, in 2020, a data breach of ProctorU—a popular AI software program for monitoring tests—ended up releasing personal information for over 440,000 students from multiple significant universities across the country.   

In this situation, well-intentioned placations are not enough, and the only real way to gain student confidence is for colleges to establish stringent, transparent protocols for data security.  

AI Discrimination  

Another primary concern about AI in higher education revolves around fairness and equity. 

An AI algorithm might be able to cut down on menial, administrative tasks, but it can't be left on its own. If it is, universities run the risk of perpetuating bias and disparities—particularly in areas like admissions and financial aid.  

This is because AI is designed to evaluate past data, not future, and its analysis reflects those administrative discriminations. Hence, to promote fairness and equality during campus processes, universities must carefully monitor these algorithms. 

Do You Have Concerns About AI in Education? 

AI is one genie that can't be put back into the bottle, and universities must enact rules to protect students from its potential abuses.  

For questions or concerns about AI guidelines in your school, we want to hear from you. Call the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team today at 1(888) 535-3686 or contact us online, and let us help defend your rights during this evolving process.