“We’re still in the take-off stage [of AI],” said Dr Egbetokun, who is researching generative AI in higher education.
“There are more and more academics and students making use of different AI tools for different purposes,” he said.
Dr Egbetokun said the use of AI was hard to spot due to its “increasing capabilities” but academics were getting better at looking for “specific markers” such as a high repetition of the same word or Americanisms.
However, AI use is not only allowed for students at De Montfort University, it is encouraged, as long as it is used properly.
“Our role as educators has to be to encourage students to think critically about AI,” said Shushma Patel, pro vice-chancellor for artificial intelligence at DMU.
She said the university’s AI policy stated students could use AI to “support their thinking” or help them “fill in the blanks” when tasks were not clear, but they must demonstrate how they used it.
Mrs Patel said if a student submitted AI-generated material “as their own” or used it to “invent” references, it was classed as misconduct and they could face a disciplinary panel.
Jennifer Hing, academic practice officer, added: “The biggest thing to remember is, is it your work? Is it your words? If it is not, then you’ve crossed a line.”
Mrs Hing, who sits on misconduct panels, said the majority of AI misuse among students was accidental due to “a lack of skill or knowledge, or confidence”.