Mississippi Professor Uncovers AI Cheating in College Assignments

Jason Gibson, a history professor at Alcorn State University, caught national attention when he discovered widespread use of artificial intelligence (AI) to cheat on assignments. His TikTok series, starting on July 20, showcased the problem.

Gibson revealed that 32 out of 35 students failed part of their midterm exam after using AI to create their responses. The prompt asked students to compare technological advancements of the Industrial Revolution with those of today. To identify AI-generated work, Gibson included a hidden instruction: inserting the word ‘Madagascar’ in a nonsensical way.

You’d be amazed at the bizarre usage of Madagascar in these assignments.

Gibson emphasized that Madagascar is unrelated to the topic. He suggested that students should at least read their AI-generated content to ensure coherence.

In a follow-up video, Gibson noted that none of the students had sought permission to use AI for assistance. He allowed grade disputes, though only two students contested their grades. Among them, one successfully argued that she saw the hidden text using dark mode and mistakenly believed it was part of the assignment.

Gibson defended his approach to reveal AI use, stressing his intent was not to see students fail.

I get no gratification out of seeing students fail.

Gibson shared examples of unusual ‘Madagascar’ insertions in the students’ responses, highlighting the robotic nature of AI-writing.

Although initially considering not to use such methods for uncovering AI use, Gibson’s frustration with AI-generated material drove him to act.

Educators are continuously exploring effective ways to handle AI in education. Many argue for monitoring cheating and plagiarism, but also recognize the importance of integrating AI into student assignments.

Amy Bruckman from Georgia Institute of Technology emphasized redesigning assignments to include AI tools as part of learning.

Teaching them appropriate use and redesigning assignments, I think, is the only way to go.

Gibson’s unconventional approach sparks ongoing dialogue among educators about AI’s role in education.