Suspecting AI cheating, Ivy League prof ordered in-person final; scores fell 50%
arstechnica.com
July 8, 2026
2 min read
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53/100
Summary
Brown University students experienced a 50% drop in final exam scores after a professor mandated in-person testing due to suspicions of AI-assisted cheating. The situation highlights the prevalence of academic dishonesty among high-achieving students under pressure.
Key Takeaways
- A survey revealed that 29.9% of Princeton students admitted to cheating with AI on at least one exam or assignment.
- Brown University experienced a significant increase in enrollment for a challenging economics course after allowing take-home exams, with 86 students signing up compared to previous averages of 30 or fewer.
- The average score for the midterm exam in the economics course was 96 out of 100, with 40 students achieving a perfect score, despite historical averages ranging from 65 to 80 percent.
- The professor, Roberto Serrano, implemented take-home exams following a traumatic event on campus, aiming to reduce pressure on students.
Community Sentiment
Positives
- There's a push for professors to rethink how they evaluate students, moving away from memorization towards assessing real understanding, which is crucial in the AI age.
- Some commenters are advocating for oral examinations as a way to truly gauge a student's grasp of the material, a method that could enhance learning outcomes.
Concerns
- The widespread use of AI is making degrees seem worthless, leading to a generation trapped in a gig economy with no real opportunities.
- Disallowing AI in education is just a lazy way to cling to outdated testing methods that don't reflect true understanding in a world where AI is prevalent.
- The significant drop in scores highlights a troubling reality: many students may not actually comprehend the material if they rely solely on AI tools.
