Chatting and Cheating. Ensuring academic integrity in the era of ChatGPT
Debby Cotton, Peter B. Cotton, J. Reuben Shipway
Abstract
The use of artificial intelligence in academia is a hot topic in the education field. The use of chatAPIs and GPT-3 in higher education has the potential to offer a range of benefits, including increased student engagement, collaboration, and accessibility. However, these tools also raise a number of challenges and concerns, particularly in relation to academic honesty and plagiarism. This paper examines the opportunities and challenges of using chatAPIs and GPT-3 in higher education, with a focus on the potential risks and rewards of these tools and the ways in which universities can address the challenges they pose. The paper discusses the main features and capabilities of chatAPIs and GPT-3 and provides examples of their use in higher education. It also considers the potential for these tools to be used for academic dishonesty and the difficulties of detecting and preventing such abuses. Finally, the paper suggests a range of strategies that universities can adopt to ensure that chatAPIs and GPT-3 are used ethically and responsibly, including developing policies and procedures, providing training and support, and using a variety of methods to detect and prevent cheating.