There’s a reason more professors are using ChatGPT in their courses

A recent New York Magazine article highlighted the widespread misuse of ChatGPT among college students, while The New York Times revealed that professors are also employing Generative-AI chatbots in the classroom. The Times discussed a complaint from a Northeastern University senior who found out that her instructor was using ChatGPT against the syllabus regulations, raising concerns about the high tuition fees for a course partly based on a program accessible to anyone.

These reports on professors’ unethical behavior surface at a time when confidence in American higher education is plummeting, coinciding with the Trump administration’s efforts to penalize non-compliant schools by withholding federal funds. The use of AI by professors to create lectures or grade students’ work is not helping to improve perceptions of academia.

The declining tenure system for professors is contributing to the casualization of academic labor, with fewer scholars enjoying job security and academic freedom. Many professors are overworked and underpaid, resorting to AI tools due to the challenges they face in the current academic environment.

As these allegations against professors emerge, the focus shifts to how college administrators will address the situation. Concurrently, administrators are torn between embracing AI for its efficiency and cost-cutting potential while upholding traditional academic integrity principles that emphasize critical thinking skills for students.

While some professors may succumb to the appeal of AI tools, others remain committed to fostering critical thinking skills in their students without relying on automated solutions. The dilemma reflects broader changes in academia and the challenges faced by educators in adapting to new technologies while preserving the core values of higher education.