OpenAI's Groundbreaking Tool for Detecting Cheating Students in Writing Assignments: Will It Be Released?
OpenAI, the leading AI research company, has developed a revolutionary tool that could potentially catch students cheating by using ChatGPT to write their assignments. However, according to a recent report by The Wall Street Journal, OpenAI is currently debating whether to release this tool to the public.
In a statement to TechCrunch, an OpenAI spokesperson confirmed that the company is researching a text watermarking method described in the Journal's story. They emphasized that OpenAI is taking a cautious approach to releasing the tool due to the potential risks and impact it may have on the broader ecosystem beyond the company.
The text watermarking method being developed by OpenAI shows promising technical capabilities but also poses significant risks. The company is exploring alternatives to address concerns such as susceptibility to circumvention by malicious actors and potential negative impacts on groups like non-English speakers.
Unlike previous efforts to detect AI-generated text, OpenAI's approach with text watermarking would specifically target writing generated by ChatGPT. By making subtle changes to how ChatGPT selects words, OpenAI aims to create an invisible watermark in the writing that can be detected using a separate tool.
Following the release of The Wall Street Journal's report, OpenAI updated a blog post from May regarding its research on detecting AI-generated content. The update highlighted the effectiveness of text watermarking in detecting localized tampering but noted its limitations against globalized tampering methods like using translation systems or rewording with other generative models.
OpenAI acknowledged that text watermarking could be easily circumvented by malicious actors and expressed concerns about stigmatizing AI as a writing tool for non-native English speakers.
In conclusion, OpenAI's development of a tool for detecting cheating in writing assignments has the potential to significantly impact education and academic integrity. The decision on whether to release this tool will have far-reaching implications for students, educators, and the broader AI ecosystem. It is crucial for OpenAI to carefully consider the risks and benefits of releasing such a tool to ensure it is used responsibly and ethically.