Is it possible for Coursera to detect if a chatbot like GPT-3 is being used for course assignments?

As technology continues to evolve, there’s no doubt that chatbots and other forms of artificial intelligence will continue to play an increasingly important role in our lives. While chatbots have many benefits, they also raise some interesting ethical questions when it comes to education.

The Risks and Limitations of Using Chatbots in Online Courses

There are several reasons why using chatbots in online courses can be problematic. For one thing, these tools can help students complete assignments more quickly and efficiently than they would otherwise be able to do. This can be particularly tempting for students who are struggling with the material or who simply want to get their work done as quickly as possible.

However, there are also some serious risks associated with using chatbots in this way. For example, chatbots can be programmed to produce high-quality answers to exam questions, which means that students could potentially cheat on their assignments without even realizing it. In addition, chatbots can also help students plagiarize by providing them with pre-written responses to use as their own.

Another potential problem with using chatbots in online courses is that they can make it harder for educators to assess student understanding and progress. If students are relying on chatbots to complete their assignments, it may be more difficult for teachers to identify areas where students are struggling or to provide personalized feedback and support.

Strategies for Detecting and Preventing Cheating with Chatbots

Given these risks, it’s no surprise that educational institutions like Coursera are taking steps to detect and prevent cheating with chatbots. One common strategy is to use software that can analyze student responses to exam questions and identify patterns of behavior that might indicate the use of a chatbot.

Another approach is to require students to complete assignments in a way that makes it difficult for them to use a chatbot. For example, some courses may require students to write their responses by hand, rather than typing them into a computer. This can make it much harder for students to cheat using a chatbot, since they would need to have access to a physical device and a stable internet connection in order to use the tool.

Real-World Examples of Cheating with Chatbots

Despite these precautions, there have been several high-profile cases of cheating with chatbots in online courses. One notable example occurred in 2018, when a group of students at an unnamed university in the United States used a chatbot to complete an exam for their artificial intelligence course. The chatbot was able to produce high-quality answers to the questions on the exam, and the students were able to pass the test without any trouble.

Another example of cheating with chatbots occurred in 2017, when a student at a university in India used a chatbot to complete an assignment for their computer science course. The chatbot was able to produce a high-quality solution to the problem that was being assigned, and the student was able to pass the assignment without any trouble.

The Implications of Cheating with Chatbots

Cheating with chatbots has serious implications for both students and educators.