While not everyone is using artificial intelligence-driven tools in college, a very significant number of students and faculty are – so many that from a student’s perspective, it might seem like “everyone” is using AI. But it’s important to understand that there are many ways that AI can be used in connection with your education. Some are accepted and even encouraged by colleges and universities, and others are prohibited and can result in you being accused of academic misconduct.

This is why it is important to understand what your school’s guidelines are when it comes to using AI, as well as any variations on those guidelines that a professor has in place for students in a particular course. If you have been accused of academic misconduct by your school because of your use of AI, contact the LLF National Law Firm’s Student Defense Team for help. We can be reached at 888.535.3686 or by filling out our online contact form. We’ll schedule a confidential consultation where you can tell us about your situation, and we will explain how we can help.

Student Use of AI in College

Surveys indicate that a substantial majority of students in schools around the world are regularly using AI in connection with their studies. Depending on the survey, the numbers are very high: anywhere between 80% and 92% of students surveyed are regularly using AI in one way or another. In the case of one survey, the most recent numbers are up considerably from survey numbers just a year earlier, where only two-thirds of students reported using AI.

Students report using AI for a number of different school-related tasks, including:

  • Searching for information, p robably the most common use of AI
  • Reviewing drafts for grammar and style, using tools such as Grammarly
  • Summarizing content in lengthy documents
  • Paraphrasing written materials
  • Writing first-draft versions of assignments and projects
  • Explaining complicated concepts in a way that helps the student understand them
  • Suggesting ideas for new research areas

Depending on the work that the student is expected to do, some of these uses may be completely fine, while others could lead to accusations that the student has violated the school’s or instructor’s policies.

The Challenge of Balancing AI Use With Learning

Of course, the first thing you need to understand before you begin using AI for school-related work is what your school’s policies are with respect to artificial intelligence, and whether your professor has any additional policies that apply on a course-by-course basis. Having an idea of where the academic boundaries are is vital if you are to avoid being accused of improperly crossing them.

That said, generally speaking, the more that you use an AI tool to replace the thinking and learning processes, the more likely it will be that your school could accuse you of academic misconduct. That is because schools typically consider that they have two roles when it comes to educating students. One role is to deliver knowledge to the student that the student will retain. The other role is to teach the student how to think for themselves; how to approach a problem, a question, or a challenge and apply their knowledge and learning skills to address it.

In general, using AI to gather relevant information that the student will retain is not something schools will have a problem with. It is when students stop trying to think for themselves by using AI tools instead that schools are likely to object and discipline.

For example, using AI to create a first draft of an assignment or a project could be one area where the school would argue that the student was improperly using AI. Many schools expect students to struggle with that first draft themselves, and view that struggle of creating the first draft and refining it as an important part of the learning process. Similarly, schools may consider that using AI to revise or “polish” a draft is improper, since that is also part of learning.

But even using facts provided by an AI tool can get students in trouble. It is not unusual for AI research tools to deliver a very convincing-sounding narrative that includes events, individuals, dates, and other information that are incorrect. Using that information without double-checking that it is accurate can lead to more than just a low score on the work; it can lead to the student being accused of improper use of artificial intelligence.

Faculty Are Also Using AI

Surveys also indicate that faculty are increasingly using artificial intelligence for teaching purposes. The percentage is lower than that for students, and in one survey, a large percentage of faculty responding said their use of AI for teaching was minimal.

Careful Use of AI is Important

As the capabilities of AI-driven tools increase, it can become very tempting to use those tools to replace much of the learning process that schools expect students to master as part of their education. This is where it is important to be careful when using AI. If you are in school not only to accumulate facts, but also to learn thinking processes, then allowing AI to do your thinking for you could result in your school accusing you of academic misconduct.

The LLF National Law Firm Defends College Students

The LLF National Law Firm’s Student Defense Team is here to defend you if your college or university has accused you of academic misconduct for any reason, including for allegedly using AI tools improperly. Our experienced attorneys understand what your legal rights are as a student. We also know the school policies and procedures that apply in misconduct proceedings in schools all across the country. We are here to be on your side, to protect your rights and to defend you against the accusations made by your school – ones that could damage your academic record or even bring your education to an abrupt halt.

Don’t try to defend yourself against your school’s academic misconduct accusations! Call the LLF National Law Firm’s Student Defense Team today at 888.535.3686, or reach out to us using our online contact form, and we will schedule a confidential consultation where you can tell us about your case, and we will explain how we can help.

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