Australian universities to return to 'pen and paper' exams after students caught using AI to write essays

Australian universities have been forced to change the way they run exams and other assessments amid fears students are using emerging artificial intelligence software to write essays. Major institutions have added new rules which state that the use of AI is cheating, with some students already caught using the software. But one AI expert has warned universities are in an "arms race" they can never win. ChatGPT, which generates text on any subject in response to a prompt or query, was launched in November by OpenAI and has already been banned across all devices in New York's public schools due to concerns over its "negative impact on student learning" and potential for plagiarism. In London, one academic tested it against a 2022 exam question and said the AI's answer was "coherent, comprehensive and sticks to the points, something students often fail to do", adding he would have to "set a different kind of exam" or deprive students of internet access for future exams. In Australia, academics have cited concerns over ChatGPT and similar technology's ability to evade anti-plagiarism software while providing quick and credible academic writing.