This section of the resource site offers guidance on identifying AI usage in student writing. It overviews the available AI detection tools and common indicators of AI-generated content. This section also highlights some of the challenges to detecting AI use, including the unreliability of current detection tools. As always, we encourage instructors to establish clear guidelines for AI use in their courses, helping students understand the ethical and appropriate ways to incorporate these technologies.

AI Detection Tools

A Word of Caution: The Unreliability of AI Detection Tools

Many AI tools claim to detect AI-generated text, but they often overpromise their accuracy. Since generative-AI writing tools are trained to evade detection, AI detectors frequently fail to reliably distinguish between human and AI-generated content. Additionally, these detectors often show bias against English language learners. Therefore, we recommend using these tools with caution. Instead of focusing solely on detecting AI use, talk to your students about the affordances and constraints of generative AI. Teaching students to utilize generative AI tools effectively and ethically is the best way to prevent their misuse.

Available Tools

Below you can find information on some of the available AI detection tools:

GPTZero: Designed to detect ChatGPT, GPTZero analyzes text at the sentence, paragraph, and document levels. GPTZeroX is a paid version that allows teachers to upload files from an entire class at once. 
Originality.ai: Uses machine learning to scan for plagiarized content and AI-generated text. 
GLTR.io: Provides in-depth reports on whether content was written by a human or AI. 
Scribbr: A free AI detector that highlights the percentage of text written by humans and AI. 
ZeroGPT: A free tool that claims to have a detection rate of around 98.5%.

A Note on Turnitin: Turnitin is a particularly unreliable AI detector, which UIUC has disabled. Please do NOT use Turnitin to detect AI-generated writing.

Potential Signs of AI Generated Writing

Below you can find some common signs that a paper may be AI generated. Keep in mind that AI detection is an imperfect science. Therefore, none of these signs guarantee that a document is AI generated. If you notice any of these signs, consider talking to students about their writing process and the content of their submission before making any accusations. For example, ask students to explain complex points or the meaning of specific words and phrases.

Signs of AI-generated Writing:

Unusual phrases that a students wouldn’t normally use
Vocabulary above the expected level
Inconsistent style: changes in style, tone, or tense
Tautology: saying the same thing twice, such as ‘We must come together to unite’;
Repeating words or phrases
Flawless grammar and spelling, especially in submissions from students who normally struggle with grammar and spelling
Unusual paraphrases, including literal translations of turns of phrases that don’t make sense