Students Warned Against Using ChatGPT for Grades-Related Materials

The Japanese education ministry has released draft guidelines that strongly discourages the use of chatbots, including ChatGPT, in any materials that could affect students’ grades such as tests, quizzes, and contests. The guidelines are expected to be distributed to all public and private elementary, junior high, and senior high schools. While chatbots may provide answers to any question a user poses, concerns have surfaced that students could abuse them. The guidelines indicate that generative artificial intelligence (AI) could initially be used in a limited capacity, such as preparing for group debates. However, the ministry plans to start trial use of generative AI in select schools to evaluate its positive and negative effects. The guidelines also caution against copyright infringement and harm to creativity and critical thinking. As a way to confirm student responses, the guidelines propose that students provide oral summaries after submissions. The education ministry clarifies that the guidelines are not intended to be hard rules on using generative AI technology.