As artificial intelligence (AI) models like DeepSeek continue to advance, university students in the Chinese mainland are increasingly utilizing AI tools to aid in academic writing. However, this trend has led to growing concerns regarding overreliance on AI and improper usage among students.
A recent survey conducted by MyCOS, which surveyed over 3,000 university faculty members and students, revealed that nearly 60 percent of respondents use generative AI daily or multiple times a week. Among students, nearly 30 percent primarily use AI for writing papers or assignments, with some admitting to directly copying and pasting AI-generated content.
University professors and experts reported to China Media Group (CMG) that beyond generating text, some students have engaged in academic misconduct. This includes falsifying research data, editing experimental images, and replacing independent design work with AI-generated content.
In response to these challenges, many universities in the Chinese mainland have introduced regulations outlining the permitted and prohibited uses of AI tools.
Fudan University recently issued guidelines that ban the use of AI in areas such as research design, data collection, image creation, thesis writing, and handling confidential content. The guidelines stipulate that serious violations could result in failing grades and impact eligibility for degrees.
Tianjin University of Science and Technology implemented AI-generated content detection in undergraduate theses last year. The policy sets a maximum AI content threshold of 40 percent and will continue for graduates in 2025.
Meanwhile, multiple research teams in the Chinese mainland are developing AI detection technologies to combat academic fraud. As AI technology evolves, so too must anti-detection methods to maintain their effectiveness.
Beyond technological measures, experts emphasize the need for improved academic evaluation methods and enhanced AI literacy. Huang Yating, a researcher at Zhejiang University's School of Education, suggests that assessment methods should prioritize higher-order thinking skills.
\"AI can replace repetitive and standardized tasks,\" Huang said. \"Professors should design assignments that AI cannot easily replicate and encourage collaboration with AI rather than full reliance on it.\"
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Chinese universities seek to regulate AI use in academic writing
cgtn.com
