Here I dive into the the world of students going viral for their ingenious, albeit clandestine, use of artificial intelligence to cheat. This unexpected twist involves Elon Musk’s OpenAI and their text-generating algorithm, GPT-3, which was initially deemed “too dangerous” but took on a life of its own and evolved into a human-like text generator by 2022.
Some students have harnessed the power of GPT-3 to revolutionize their academic approach. In 2019, OpenAI had to tame its AI creation due to its hyper-realistic text generation capabilities. However, over the subsequent year, it stealthily enhanced its capabilities, catching the attention of a select group of students who saw an opportunity to outsmart the traditional education system.
How did the students cheat using AI?
The students devised a strategy to leverage GPT-3 for academic gain, completing their homework ten times faster while achieving top grades. Instead of immersing themselves in hours of research, they simply provided the AI with essay prompts, allowing it to craft human-like text seamlessly. The surplus time afforded by this automated approach even enabled them to take on additional work, completing homework assignments for classmates in exchange for financial compensation.
Yet, the question remains – who are these students, and does their method breach any academic rules? The students, exercising caution, choose to remain anonymous, underscoring the gray area surrounding the ethics of their actions. The traditional education system, caught off guard by this novel approach, grapples with the dilemma of whether to condone or condemn this method.
Is it ethical to use AI to help with studies?
The students argue that their use of AI is a tool enhancing their efficiency, while some teachers counter that even though essays may be produced faster, the quality of learning may be compromised. But as we have discussed there are ethical implications of students leveraging advanced AI for academic gains. The tale raises questions about the fine line between innovation and cheating, urging educators and institutions to navigate the evolving landscape of technology-driven education with vigilance.
