Law schools around the country have taken an increasing interest in the use of AI and ChatGPT technology amongst their students. In order to ensure students are not inadvertently violating the honor code, Berkeley Law is one of the first to set parameters for students on their use of ChatGPT. On 14 April, the school rolled out a policy to protect students from incurring penalties.
ChatGPT usage among the student body is only permitted for the purposes of research and fixing grammar, and may not be used to compose and submit assignments or in any way plagiarize the ideas of others. Should a professor decide to allow usage of the AI program in their class, this must be made known to the students in writing in advance.
The policy development committee, headed by professor Chris Hoofnagle and two other faculty members, realized the urgency of putting out a regulation prior to the coming final exams. This could ensure students understand their limitations and remain clear of falling foul of the honor code.
Reuter’s news article highlights the strictness of the policy and its consequential implications for the students. The school is trying its best to protect the students from potential penile repercussions for failing to comply with honor code expectations. It is important, therefore, that all law schools take note of this policy and consider implementing similar parameters if they haven’t already done so.
As new AI technologies, such as ChatGPT, continues to make its way into the world of academia it is crucial that students are protected from unexpected consequences. Therefore, it is always a good idea to familiarize yourself with the rules and regulations that your school has in place to protect students from potential penalties.
