Turnitina company that develops tools for detecting textual plagiarism, has carried out an interesting study in the school context.
The utility in question, capable of identifying the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence worked for a year, collecting data on over 200 million texts. The result of this research is quite interesting, with approximately11% of the material examined which is considered to be wholly or partly artificially created.
Of this percentage, at least one fifth was achieved (in whole or in part) by ChatGPT or similar tools. Although this result may seem shocking, it is not that different from other similar research. Simply put, despite the progress of AI, it appears that there has not been an increase in its use for student assignments in recent months.
The Turnitin study, however, is not the only research that analyzes this phenomenon.
ChatGPT at school: between risks and enormous potential
The research company Tyton Partners, for example, published a report covering the same topic. She interviewed a large number of students, with half of them admitting to using ChatGPT at least once a month. Not only that: the 75% of those interviewed confirmed that, even in the event of a ban by the school, they would continue to use these tools.
Annie Ceccitelli, Chief Product Officer of Turnitin wanted to comment on the data offered by the research, stating how learning is transforming due to technology. In this sense, teachers are called upon to make a great effort to maintain the high quality of studies by integrating new technologies in a balanced way. From this point of view, for example, what has already been done byUniversity of Arizona.
On the other hand, the abuse of AI in the academic context can lead to very unpleasant situations. Just think of a medical student who uses ChatGPT to obtain his degree and who, once ready to practice the profession, turns out to be inadequate.