AI Content Detection in Education

Artificial intelligence (AI) in education has become a hot topic. It has its benefits, sure, but the tool’s ability to generate content with just a prompt and the click of a button has been a real concern in a field that has already been fighting against plagiarism for some time. Fortunately, though, with the adoption of AI content detection in education, educators now have a way to ensure a student’s work is original.

In this article, we’ll explore what AI content detection is, why we need it in education, and how it can help maintain academic integrity in the classroom.

What Is AI Content Detection?

AI content detection involves identifying when artificial intelligence is likely being used in content. But since it’s becoming increasingly difficult for humans to tell the difference between AI and original content themselves, this is often done with the help of AI content detectors, like Originality.A's AI Checker that can identify if text was written by ChatGPT or similar.

Using machine learning algorithms and natural language processing techniques, these content detectors will analyze a given piece of text and calculate a score. This score will tell you the likelihood of the text being AI-generated vs original.

For example, with Originality.AI, you may receive a score of 80% AI and 20% original. But this doesn’t mean the content is 80% AI - it means that there’s an 80% chance that it contains AI-generated text. So, if a teacher receives this score for one of their student’s papers, then that student may have some explaining to do.

Why Do We Need AI Content Detection in Education?

Basically, there are two major reasons why we need AI content detection in education: (1) AI content is everywhere and (2) there are some serious risks involved with using this technology in the classroom. Let’s explore these topics in more detail below.

The Rise of AI in Education

When you think about the use of AI in education, your first thought is probably about students using it to help them with assignments. And while that’s true, AI is capable of so much more than that - even educators are getting in on the action.

Here are some of the ways that AI is being used in the classroom:

• Task automation: Checking homework, organizing papers, taking notes, creating presentations, and grading tests
• Improving accessibility: Translating through multi language support, providing real-time subtitles for the hearing-impaired
• Monitoring exams: Keeping an eye on students through keystroke analysis, webcams, browsers, and microphones
• Generating content: For students, creating content to help with assignments. For teachers, creating lesson plans, material for students at different reading levels, even college recommendation letters

As you can see, there are some real benefits to using AI in education. But, like anything, it also has its limitations. It is therefore essential for educators and students to be aware of AI content if they want to avoid some potentially major issues. This is where AI content detection comes into play.

The Risks and Limitations of AI in Education

Though it has its place in education, AI content detection methods are essential for the responsible use of artificial intelligence in the classroom. When they’re unable to tell the difference between AI and original content, educators and students face the following risks:

• Plagiarism and cheating: Of course, this isn’t a new issue in education, but AI is making it easier than ever for students to cheat their way through school. And academic dishonesty like this has some major consequences for schools and students
• Bias: AI is trained on datasets. So, if there is biased information in any of this data - even unconscious bias - it will come through in AI content. This can lead to AI-based grading systems giving an unfair advantage to certain students, or course recommendations reflecting certain stereotypes and prejudices
• Potential for errors: Like humans, AI can make errors. One of the most concerning are “hallucinations”, where it references things that aren’t actually true or never really happened

These limitations can have some far-reaching consequences for a student’s future. So, AI content detection isn’t just “nice to have” in education - it’s essential.

How AI Content Detection in Education Can Help Address the Risks

When educators make a conscious decision to distinguish AI content from original work, they are effectively acknowledging AI’s shortcomings and ensuring its responsible use in the classroom. And best of all? AI content detectors make it easy.

Let’s go back to our example with Originality.AI. If an educator runs a paper through the detector and finds that there’s an 80% chance that it’s AI-generated, they have a couple of choices. They can fail the student for not doing their own work, or give them another chance to complete it on their own. This can go a long way in helping to maintain academic integrity in the classroom.

AI content detection can also help teachers use AI more responsibly. They can run lesson plans and materials from outside sources through the detector to see if it has been AI-generated. If so, they can take a second look at the material to ensure it’s accurate and appropriate before using it.

Final Thoughts

With its many benefits, there’s a good chance that AI will continue to have an important role in the future of education. But if educators are and students are going to use it responsibly, then AI content detection methods are essential.

When educators make detecting AI content a priority, they are upholding the bar for academic integrity in schools. This makes AI content detection an important part of ensuring a quality education for students.

Update for Clarity June 13, 2024: AI detection is essential as AI use continues to increase across many industries, including education. However, AI detection does not always mean the use of AI detectors.

False positives (when human-written content is incorrectly identified as AI-generated text) do occur with AI detectors. At Originality.ai we currently see a false positive rate of ~2%. Our machine engineers are always working to continuously improve accuracy and reduce false positives.