Identifying and Handling Suspected Cases of Unauthorized Use of AI

At the University of Graz, instructors determine whether and in what form students may use artificial intelligence (AI) in courses and for exams. Whether and how AI may be used in a course must be specified in the course description before the start of the semester. Relevant guidelines and text templates are available in the Resources section.

If instructors - particularly in the case of written assignments or assessment components - suspect that students have used AI applications without authorization, this raises two fundamental questions:
1.    How can unauthorized use of AI be identified?
2.    What measures can be taken?

Identifying Unauthorized Use of AI

Unlike traditional cases of plagiarism, it is currently not possible to detect AI-generated texts with sufficient accuracy using software applications (e.g., plagiarism detection software). Nor is the use of an AI application suitable for verifying whether a text was created using AI. Additionally, data protection and copyright considerations must be taken into account here. An attempt to deceive by using an AI-generated text is therefore most comparable to ghostwriting.

However, the following indicators, among others, may point to AI-generated text:

  • Thematic or factual inconsistencies in the text document
  • Insufficient originality of content
  • Stylistic inconsistencies throughout the text document
  • Frequent use of unusual word choices
  • Frequent linguistic redundancies
  • Non-existent source citations

While the presence of these indicators may give rise to suspicion, it does not automatically lead to the conclusion that the text in question (or individual parts of it) was in fact created using an unauthorized AI application.

Steps to Take When Unauthorized Use of AI Is Suspected

If there is suspicion of unauthorized use of AI in the production of written exam work, it is recommended to speak with the student. This allows you to get a sense of the situation and better assess whether unauthorized use of AI has occurred.

The following section presents example scenarios for handling suspected cases in the form of FAQs:

The course description must specify, before the start of the semester, which AI applications are permitted and to what extent. Unauthorized use occurs when the provisions of the respective course are violated.

No. The use of unauthorized AI applications is to be treated like any other attempt at cheating. The measures to be taken are set forth in the section of the bylaws titled “Studienrechtliche Bestimmungen.”

If suspicions arise during the evaluation of a bachelor’s thesis or research paper, it is advisable to first speak with the student to get a sense of the situation. If, as the advisor, you become convinced that unauthorized use has occurred, the thesis must be given a failing grade. It must be objectively verifiable how you arrived at this conclusion. This is, of course, more likely to be the case if you have at least spoken with the student. The case of academic dishonesty must be reported to the Director of Studies (§ 40(1) of the “Studienrechtliche Bestimmungen” section of the bylaws).

If a bachelor’s thesis or academic paper receives a failing grade, you, as the advisor, may refuse to supervise it again and/or require that a bachelor’s thesis or academic paper with entirely new content and/or a new topic be written. In the case of bachelor’s theses, you, as the advisor, may also require that the thesis be written as part of another suitable course. Before making a decision, the Director of Studies must obtain the student’s statement (§ 40(3) of the “Studienrechtliche Bestimmungen” section of the bylaws).

If, prior to the final evaluation, it is determined that the student has not demonstrated sufficient independent work due to the unauthorized use of an AI application, you, as the advisor, may refuse to continue advising the student and/or require that a completely new academic paper—in terms of content and/or topic—be written. Before making this decision, the Director of Studies must obtain the statement of the student concerned (§ 40(2) of the “Studienrechtliche Bestimmungen” section of the bylaws).

No. A meeting is not mandatory. However, it is strongly recommended. A meeting can be scheduled at any time up until the evaluation of the bachelor’s thesis/research paper/exam.

If, for example, suspicion arises regarding a seminar paper submitted as part of a course with continuous assessment, it is advisable to first speak with the student. If there has been unauthorized use of an AI application, the facts of the matter must be documented, in particular through a note in the file or by preserving evidence. Even if cheating occurred only in a partial assignment, the entire course must generally be graded negatively.

However, as the course instructor, you may allow students to retake individual course components that received a failing grade within the course until the end of the following semester, provided that the other course components completed as part of the course allow for the expectation of an overall positive outcome of the student’s participation (§ 33(7) of the “Studienrechtliche Bestimmungen” section of the bylaws).

The negative evaluation must be reported to the director of studies.

The student is entitled to submit a request for the Director of Studies to review the evaluation within two weeks of receiving a failing grade (§ 25(6) of the “Studienrechtliche Bestimmungen” section of the bylaws).

For exams administered as part of a single examination session, the exam must also be graded as a failure in the event of unauthorized use of an AI application; in such cases, a discussion with the student is also recommended. The student has the option to submit a request for the Director of Studies to review the grade (§ 25(6) of the “Studienrechtliche Bestimmungen” section of the bylaws).

If a positive evaluation has already been issued and there is suspicion of improper use of an AI application, proceedings must be initiated in accordance with § 73 UG (Annulment of an Evaluation) or § 89 UG (Revocation of Academic Degrees). In this case, please contact the dean’s office responsible for the relevant degree program.