AI agents are taking entire online courses for cheating students

Artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to undermine online education, a rapidly growing sector for colleges and universities, as educators grapple with an influx of tech-enabled cheating. While many physical classroom professors have resorted to oral presentations and handwritten exams to deter misuse, these strategies prove more challenging to implement in an online environment.

Over half of American college students took at least one online course last year, a significant jump from about a third in 2019. In self-paced, asynchronous online courses, students rarely interact with professors or peers, even via video, and assignments are submitted digitally.

While some universities offer entirely online degrees, many brick-and-mortar institutions are expanding their online course offerings. Students can even earn full degrees or take individual classes online. AI cheating is accelerating beyond mere copy-and-pasting of chatbot-produced essays and problem sets. Students can now outsource entire semesters of work using simple commands, such as "log in and complete my quiz."

These AI agents can watch lecture videos, take tests, write papers, and communicate with classmates about reading assignments.

The accessibility of AI deepens concerns about the value of online degrees, especially as pandemic-related academic struggles and questions about college readiness arise. Educators, both new and seasoned, have noticed the growing presence of AI in digital classrooms, with some detecting AI-generated work through clues like the overuse of the pronoun "you" in essays.

Others recognize the polished, well-researched nature of AI-written papers that reference resources not required. Some professors have resorted to requiring in-person exams or using paper dictionaries to combat AI misuse, but solutions remain elusive as students often deny any wrongdoing, and administrators are hesitant to impose discipline due to potential budget cuts and shifting demographics.