Students in Manchester are using AI to cheat at university as experts issue warning

More than half a dozen university students in Manchester have been caught using artificial intelligence (AI) to cheat, it has been revealed.

New figures show that seven students at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) and two at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) have received sanctions in the last two years for cheating by using AI.

The figures were obtained in a Freedom of Information request to more than 150 universities across the country by the AI platform AIPRM.

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The popularisation of chatbots and other AI software has already posed a headache for teachers and education establishments across the globe.

Research in the US found that over one in six students had admitted to cheating using the new technology. Whilst some schools have already banned use of them to clamp down on the issue.

The figures issued by the more than 80 universities with available data, showed more than four in five have investigated students for AI-related cheating.

MMU has confirmed it has sanctioned seven students It is the third-highest number recorded by a university in the North West in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 academic years.

It has not confirmed what the outcomes were in the cases. But the Manchester Evening News understands a range of disciplinary options are available and each case is taken on its merits.

They say they provide courses that advise students how to use the technology to their benefit, but within the rules. An MMU spokesman told the Manchester Evening News: “The unauthorised use of generative artificial intelligence is covered under our academic misconduct policy and where its use is suspected, will be investigated.

"We also recognise the potential benefits of using generative artificial intelligence to support students’ studies and we provide AI literacy courses for students to help them explore how best to use the technologies.”

Two students also received penalties at RNCM who are based on Oxford Road. The M.E.N has approached the college for comment.

Technology expert Christopher C Cemper, speaking on behalf of AIPRM, said AI should be used as "a friend or side-kick, not a substitute for writing up your work."

He said: “AI can be a great source for locating academic research, generating ideas and summarising articles, but make sure that when utilising AI tools, you always ensure that the work remains your own and maintain originality. For example, AI can assist with grammar and style of writing but do not use it to write an entire paper or section of your assignment.

“Use AI as a guide to understanding and upgrading your skill set, but make sure to always apply your own critical thinking skills to your work and there remains a human touch. But don’t present AI use as your own work or without proper attribution, or this could land you a hefty penalty for plagiarism."

The university with the highest number of students who received an academic penalty was Birmingham City Univeristy. who handed out 402 sanctions. Leeds Beckett also issued 395, Coventry University 231 and Robert Gordon University in Abedrdeen, Scotland, 211.

The highest number in the North West was the 35 issued by the Univeristy of Central Lancashire and the 12 by Edge Hill University in Ormskirk, Lancs. MMU was third. The University of Manchester, the University of Salford and the University of Bolton all reported no cases.