Hey Amy, have you read about that student who used AI to cheat at university and got caught?

Yeah, I saw that. Her name’s Hannah, but not her real name. She used AI to write part of an essay because she was really stressed and had Covid. It’s a big issue now with students.

What happened when she got caught?

Her lecturer used software that checks for AI usage in essays. When she saw the AI percentage was high, she admitted she used AI because she was under a lot of pressure.

Wow, that must have been scary. Did she get in trouble?

She almost got kicked out, but they let her off with a warning since it was her first year and there wasn’t enough proof. But she said it really ruined her year.

I can’t imagine that. Why did she use AI if it’s so risky?

She said she felt a lot of pressure to keep up her good grades. She was doing really well before, so she thought using AI would help. But it backfired.

So, what exactly is AI doing here? How does it help with essays?

AI, like ChatGPT, can generate text based on a topic you give it. It’s like having a super-smart assistant that writes for you, but universities say it’s cheating if you use it for your work without permission.

Are all universities against AI then?

Not all. Some allow it for things like checking grammar or helping with structure, as long as it’s cited properly. But using it to write entire essays without permission is definitely against the rules.

That makes sense. But, I guess it’s hard to balance learning with technology.

Exactly. Universities want students to understand AI, but they also want to make sure everyone’s doing their own work. It’s a tricky balance.

I get why Hannah regrets it now. It’s not worth risking your degree over.

Totally. It’s better to ask for help or extensions if you’re struggling. AI is a tool, but you have to use it wisely, especially in education.

Yeah, AI can be helpful, but it shouldn’t be a shortcut for everything.

Right. Learning how to use it responsibly is important, but at the end of the day, it’s still your work that matters.