NEW YORK, October 2, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Copy leaksa leading AI text analytics platform that enables businesses and educational institutions to confidently navigate the ever-changing GenAI landscape, today released the second part of its 2024 study on AI Ethics, providing an in-depth look at the ethical considerations surrounding AI in education. . By surveying 1,000 students and 250 teachers across the United States, the research explores ethical concerns, trust levels and perceptions regarding the impact of AI on educational integrity.
The study finds that while teachers overwhelmingly prioritize ethical concerns, students view AI as a tool to improve learning, often overlooking ethical implications. A striking 55% of students admitted to using AI in a way that violates their school’s ethics policies, more than double the percentage of educators (26.8%). This gap highlights the need for robust training and ethical guidelines as AI continues to shape educational environments.
“As AI becomes more prevalent in education, the ethical divide between students and educators becomes increasingly apparent,” said Alon Yamin, CEO and co-founder of Copyleaks. “The data highlights the critical need for institutions to provide clear policies and guidance to ensure ethical use of AI, making it clear when AI can be used and when it cannot, as well as the ramifications of unethical AI practices.”
The main findings of the study include:
Ethical concerns and the use of AI
- More than 55% of students admit to using AI in a way that conflicts with their institution’s ethics policies, compared to just 26.8% of teachers. This reveals a significant gap in the understanding and application of ethics in academia.
- It is worth noting that 63.0% of high school students admitted to using AI unethically, followed by graduate students (60.1%), middle school students (47.6%), and college students. undergraduate (46.0%).
- Interestingly, 63.7% of male students and 51.2% of female students admitted to unauthorized use.
Big differences in AI usage versus AI discussion
- 73.2% of teachers are comfortable with AI-based educational platforms, but only 32.4% admit to frequently discussing their use of AI with their peers. In contrast, 67.5% of students feel comfortable using AI tools, but only 21.3% admit to frequently discussing their use of AI with their peers.
AI and academic integrity
- Nearly 45.2% of teachers support the role of AI in preventing academic dishonesty, while 40.0% of students report concerns about privacy. This difference reflects students’ anxiety about AI’s invasive potential versus teachers’ focus on AI’s ability to meet academic standards.
The role of AI in personalized learning
- While 45.6% of students frequently use AI-based personalized learning platforms, only 36.4% of teachers use these platforms often. Likewise, more educators than students (by a margin of 7.8%) rarely or never use these tools, indicating a gap in the perceived value of AI-based personalized learning.
AI ethics training
- 68% of teachers emphasize the importance of providing ethical training on AI in schools, compared to only 41.1% of students. This stark difference in opinion suggests that students may be underestimating the ethical challenges posed by AI technologies.
Marked differences in AI-assisted scoring
- Students are more hesitant about AI-assisted grading, with 64.8% preferring human assessments, compared to 46.0% of teachers who are more open to AI-assisted grading.
The role of human educators
- 57.6% of teachers believe that AI will not replace teachers, an opinion shared by 50.9% of students. This aligns with concerns about the role of AI in the future of education and the idea that AI supports rather than replaces human educators.
“Ethics must be the foundation for adopting AI in education,” Yamin continued. “Our study reveals a clear need for dialogue between administrators, teachers and students to bridge the gap in the ethical use of AI. By instilling a culture of ethical accountability, we can ensure that AI is used to enhance learning without compromising the integrity or confidentiality of the academic environment.
For more information and to download the full survey report, please click here.
About the study
The Copyleaks 2024 AI in Academia study examines the integration of AI into educational settings, focusing on how educators and students interact with and perceive AI technologies. By surveying 1,000 graduate, undergraduate, high school, and college students and 250 educators (e.g., teachers, speakers, professors) across the United States, the study provides insight into patterns of use of AI, comfort levels and varying degrees of enthusiasm for AI in the classroom. By highlighting these differences, the study aims to identify areas where instructional strategies and support can be improved to better align with the evolving technology landscape.
About CopyLeaks
Copyleaks is a leading AI text analytics platform that enables businesses and educational institutions to confidently navigate the ever-changing genAI landscape. With an award-winning suite of AI-powered tools trusted by millions, Copyleaks provides AI governance, enables responsible AI adoption, protects intellectual property, protects intellectual property, and maintains academic integrity through comprehensive AI and plagiarism detection.
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