UW–Madison professor Timothy Paustian says hidden prompts and newer detectors helped flag 60 suspected AI essays in one assignment for his 350-student online microbiology course; 59 students admitted using AI. He is reconsidering writing assignments.
A hidden instruction in one assignment told an AI to mention “blueberries.” The article says students are getting better at spotting and removing such prompts, while guidelines at many colleges discourage relying solely on AI detectors because they are imperfect.
The one student who did not acknowledge using AI also did not appeal the zero grade. Paustian told The Atlantic the prospect of dropping writing assignments “breaks my heart,” because he sees writing as one of the best ways to learn.
