What to do if you detect plagiarism in your classroom?

GPTZero Team -

So you detected AI in your classroom… now what?

A year ago everyone was asking “Is this AI?” and we were first to market to develop an AI detection tool.

Now they’re asking “What do I do next?”.

If you detect AI writing in a student’s work, it’s important to default to the stance of educating and raising awareness of AI’s benefits, shortcomings and hallucinations. You are here to teach, both your curriculum but also how students will move forward through the world. So in that light, start the conversation from a place of good faith. The best approach acknowledges the potential of AI as a tool, while underscoring the importance of academic integrity and the development of personal voice and critical thinking.

Some students may not know about AI’s occasional inaccuracies and hallucinations (the AI's tendency to make up false information and present it as fact). You can inform them that misinformation is inherent to AI-generated text. Use that fact as a springboard for a deeper understanding of AI’s technical limitations in academic work.

GPTZero just launched the waitlist for our new Request Edit feature to support you in navigating AI in your classroom (sign up on the GPTZero dashboard). If AI is detected through GPTZero’s platform, you’re able to request the student to edit their work in a few easy steps:

  1. Simply share the link with the student
  1. Students can sign up for free on GPTZero and edit directly on the platform. Our detector will notify them once no AI content is detected.
  1. You’re able to view their refined submission in your dashboard 

When you share the revision link with students, circle the conversation back to how students can use their own voice to enhance what AI has generated. Come up with some tangible next steps, and even walk through the AI writing tool together if you have the opportunity. Offer to work with the student on proper AI use during their time in your class. At the end of the day, your aim is to create an environment where students feel supported in their learning journey.

Sample script of a conversation with a student about AI writing:

Hi [Name],


I’d like to talk about your recent assignment submission.

It's important for me to say at the outset that this is a conversation from a place of understanding and support, not accusation.

In reviewing your work, a tool we use indicated that parts of the assignment might not have been entirely your own creation.

My primary goal here is to support your learning and development. I’d like to understand the journey you're on, the pressures you might be facing, and how I can best assist you in navigating them.

Could you share with me a bit about your process in creating this assignment?

See here for our guide on how top educators approach AI in the classroom.