AI threatens integrity of work submitted by tertiary students

Education activist, Hendrick Makaneta, says institutions of higher learning need to implement mechanisms that will help detect the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the assignments submitted by students – just as there are mechanisms used to detect plagiarism.

Makaneta was weighing in on the rapid increase of the use of AI among university students, which compromises the quality of work submitted.

Many Unisa students have landed in trouble due to this, with some of them being the latest group facing disciplinary hearings over their exam scripts.

Makaneta says the effects on the students who are caught cheating on their assignments using either AI or plagiarism differ according to the severity of each case.

Sanctions include being expelled from university or suspension, which could see one barred from writing exams for five years.

Students are urged to not use AI-related websites such as ChatGPT to complete assignments and to be honest in their work to ensure that they graduate with integrity and become individuals who are able to solve issues based on their actual knowledge.

Written by YNews Contributor, Lamile Miya.