In an unprecedented case, a student at the University of Bolton in the UK has been caught using ChatGPT, an AI chatbot, to cheat on an assessment. The student cited a fictional book titled “Leadership Insights for Wizards and Witches” as a reference for an essay on leadership theories, resulting in a failed grade for the assignment. This incident highlights the growing concern of a cheating epidemic facilitated by advanced AI technology in higher education institutions.

The student’s misconduct was discovered by the university’s standard and enhancement office, who detected the use of ChatGPT in certain parts of the essay. Consequently, the student was required to rewrite the essay. The university revealed these details in response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request.

During the investigation, discrepancies in the writing style and nonsensical statements raised suspicion. Of particular concern was the reference to a recently published book called “Leadership Insights for Wizards and Witches” by Aditya Simha, which explores leadership practices through the lens of J.K. Rowling’s magical world.

The introduction of ChatGPT has raised significant concerns among educational institutions worldwide. This AI software allows users to receive human-like responses to their questions almost instantly, mimicking the style and syntax of human communication. As a result, American schools have already banned its use, and UK universities are now urgently reviewing detection measures to address this issue.