As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more popular, it's easier than ever to generate content automatically. For schools, this presents a significant problem. It's relatively simple for students to use AI to cheat, whether this means writing an essay or answering a homework question.

The result? Schools are turning to software like Turnitin to help them detect cheating on assignments. However, despite its popularity, Turnitin is far from perfect. In fact, it's catching out innocent students and, potentially, putting academic futures at risk. If you're accused of cheating due to Turnitin's AI detector, here's how you might defend the accusation.

What Is Turnitin?

Turnitin is one of the leading plagiarism detection tools. Although it's normally used to catch duplicate or plagiarized content, it's now also capable of detecting AI-written content – at least in theory.

The Problem with Turnitin's False Positive Rate

Turnitin looks for patterns (or inconsistencies) in submissions to detect AI writing and other deviations in a student's writing style. The problem, however, is that it can only predict content written by AI. It can't give a definitive answer. This is leading to several “false positives”, where content is flagged as AI-generated but it's a student's own work.

What Happens if You're Accused of Cheating Using AI?

If you're unfairly accused of cheating, you could receive a failing grade for an assignment or be forced to retake a test. Such an outcome can have significant consequences, especially when you're at a critical stage in your academic career.

However, just remember that you're entitled to tell your side of the story. Your high school or college progress should not be jeopardized by an algorithm – it's often possible to show that your work is authentic.

What to Do if Your School Accuses You of Cheating

First, try to stay calm. An accusation does not mean a student will be punished for the alleged incident. Instead, immediately do the following.

• Ask the school to set out the specifics of the allegations. You deserve to have as many facts as possible so you can explain your side of things.
• Gather as much evidence as you can to support your position. This could be, for example, notes or other research materials.
• Check the school handbook for disciplinary procedures they should follow. A school must follow due process and treat every student fairly and without bias or prejudice.
• Contact an the Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm. They can help you negotiate with the school and, where appropriate, have the allegations dismissed or the punishment mitigated.

The Lento Law Firm Can Help You Fight Cheating Accusations

Cheating is a serious issue at all levels of academia. However, innocent students should never have their hard work doubted due to a faulty algorithm. If a school makes cheating accusations based on Turnitin's AI detector, don't panic. Instead, contact the Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm. We're able to assist with all academic misconduct allegations, including cheating. Contact us online or call 888.535.3686 now.