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Suspecting AI cheating, Ivy League prof ordered in-person final; scores fell 50%

Suspecting AI cheating, Ivy League prof ordered an 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.

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Community Sentiment

Negative

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Disallowing AI in education is just a lazy way to cling to outdated testing methods that don't reflect true understanding in a world where AI is prevalent.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.