The use of generative artificial intelligence is controversial in almost all areas. But in few it raises as many blisters as in education. Especially when students use ChatGPT and equivalents to cheat.
A few months ago, the parents of a minor with the initials RNH, denounced the Hingham Institute in Massachusetts for suspending their son, accused of using artificial intelligence to create a project for the History subject.
Parents argue that The institute’s rules do not prohibit the use of AI. The teachers defend that these rules do prohibit copying and behaving dishonestly. A judge has handed down a sentence.
Using AI to copy school work is still copying
The events occurred in December 2023. According to Ars TechnicaRHN and another student used an educational generative artificial intelligence called Grammarlyto generate the text of a History work, and then copy and paste it in your project.
The students did not even bother to check the text, which contained hallucinations and references to books that do not exist. They spent a total of 52 minutes on the task, while it took other students between 8 and 9 hours.
The History teacher ran the texts through several applications that detect the use of AI, such as Draft Back and Chat Zero, and both confirmed the plagiarism.
The students failed the subject, and were removed from the institute’s honor roll. However, they were allowed to redo the work separately and without technology, to pass.
RNH’s parents decided to sue the institute, arguing that the teacher had let them use AI, and the school rules do not indicate that text from the AI cannot be copied and pasted.
This week, Massachusetts Court Judge Paul Levenson has issued a ruling in favor of the teacher and the institute: “the defendants have better arguments on the facts and the law.”
The judge has been dismissing, one by one, the parents’ accusations. It is true that the students had permission to use AI, but the teacher stressed that it was only to obtain ideas, not to copy and paste texts.
And although none of the institute’s regulations mention artificial intelligence, they do state that copying text from a source is prohibited in assignments and exams. And also, “dishonest behavior.”
The judge considers that the two students behaved dishonestly, because they used the AI text, but nowhere did they indicate that they had used AI. This proves that they knew they were acting wrong, and wanted to hide it.
Finally, the judge stipulates that the teacher did not act “hot”since before accusing he went through several applications that detect the use of AI.
Besides, the punishment was not excessive. Although the teacher failed them for the quarter, he gave them the opportunity to repeat the work without technology.
Now the parents have the right to appeal the sentence. According to experts, there is little chance that it will prosper. It is true that specific regulation is needed for AI in schools, but copy is copyit doesn’t matter if you carry the written text in your hand in an exam, or if you use AI.
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Tags: Artificial intelligence, Viral, Curiosities, Family