Using ChatGPT is a punishable offense in this university, know why

By Ankita ChakravartiAfter the Bengaluru University and New York education board, the University of Hong Kong based in China has issued a ban on the usage of the AI tools in colleges. The OpenAI-based ChatGPT can not be used by students and teachers alike at the HKU. The university said in a statement that it is illegal to use the chatbot for writing assignments and for using it to teach. If the students are found using the ChatGPT despite the ban, they punishment will be the same as plagiarism offences.

According to GizChina, He Liren, a person in charge of teaching at the University of Hong Kong sent an email to teachers and students. The email said that using AI tools like ChatGPT in class, assignments, and assessments is not allowed. If a student uses it without getting permission from their teacher, it will be treated as cheating or plagiarism. This means that students who have been using ChatGPT to finish their assignments quickly may now be in trouble.

“Prohibit the use of ChatGPT or other AI tools in class, assignments and other assessments.If the student does not obtain the written permission of the course teacher when using it, it will be regarded as taking other people’s work, involving deception. This simply means that it will be treated as plagiarism,” Liren said in an internal letter, which was accessed by Gizchina.

If a student is suspected of using a tool like ChatGPT to finish their school work, the teacher may ask them to provide additional information about their work or take an oral exam to test their knowledge. The school is taking short-term measures to address this issue, but they recognize the importance of AI and plan to discuss it further through a campus debate. Some students find ChatGPT to be helpful, but the school needs to consider how to incorporate AI tools into teaching and learning more carefully over time.

In India, Bengaluru-based RV university banned ChatGPT in colleges. As per a Hindustan Times report, the university has not only banned ChatGPT, it has also banned other AI-based tools such as GitHub Co-pilot and Black Box. “We have issued an advisory to all departments in the university and banned a few AI tools like ChatGPT as students might use them in exams or to complete their assignments. The ban is already implemented,” an official told Hindustan Times.