Newcastle University has issued an email to its students warning of the potential risks of using artificial intelligence (AI) during exams. The email expressed that it is important to act responsibly while utilizing AI in order to prevent plagiarism and misconduct when it comes to university assessments. Moreover, the email references the first known instance of a student being caught using the AI chatbot tool ChatGPT in an examination.
Entitled “Please Read!”, the email encourages students to be familiar with how to use AI ethically and to not give in to poor academic practice. To further emphasize this point, a link provided takes students to a skills kit site that outlines how AI can be used to aid in the preparation for exams and in student’s learning endeavors. In addition, the website encourages students to understand the limitations of AI tools and when the use of the AI is considered inappropriate and thus affects academic integrity.
Moreover, Newcastle University has declared its commitment to supporting students in developing good academic practice as well as the awareness of generative AI. Pages have also been provided with information on recognizing the use of AI in the development of work and when using generative AI is considered a violation.
In addition to the warning issued, the email seeks to remind students of the importance of studying with integrity, as it is vital to an enriching education. Therefore, it is essential to be conscious of one’s actions when using AI to ensure that proper ethical practices are maintained both in the present and for the future of education.
