Are More Students Using AI to Write Their Papers?

ince its launch in April 2023, Turnitin’s AI writing detection tool has been quietly revolutionizing how educators approach academic integrity.

In just under two years, it has reviewed over 200 million student papers, uncovering a startling trend: more than half of students are using AI to help write their assignments.

The numbers are eye-opening—over 22 million papers were at least 20% AI-generated, and more than 6 million were at least 80% AI-written, according to data released by the company in late March 2024.

These statistics aren’t just a wake-up call; they’re a flashing neon sign that education is at a crossroads. AI is here, it’s powerful, and students are embracing it—whether schools are ready or not.

But Turnitin isn’t sounding the alarm just to point fingers. Instead, the company is urging educators and institutions to see this as an opportunity to rethink how we teach, learn, and define academic honesty in the age of artificial intelligence.

Beyond Detection: A Puzzle Worth Solving

Turnitin’s message is clear: spotting AI in student work is just one piece of a much bigger puzzle.

While their tool—integrated into products like Turnitin Originality, Turnitin Feedback Studio, and iThenticate 2.0—can flag AI-generated content with impressive accuracy (boasting a mere 1% false positive rate), the company emphasizes that detection alone isn’t the answer. “

Educators and institutions should look at a variety of factors,” Turnitin advises, encouraging open conversations with students about acceptable AI use, updates to academic policies, and even a fresh approach to designing essay prompts.

This holistic perspective comes at a critical time. A Spring 2023 study conducted with Tyton Partners, to which Turnitin contributed, found that academic cheating tops the list of educator concerns.

Students, meanwhile, admitted they’re “likely or extremely likely” to use generative AI tools like ChatGPT—even if their schools ban them.

Yet, the same study revealed a glaring gap: 97% of academic institutions were unprepared to address this shift, with only 3% having any formal AI policy in place. Two years later, the question remains: has that number budged?

AI Detection: A Tool, Not a Judge

Turnitin’s AI detection technology, developed over two years before ChatGPT burst onto the scene, doesn’t aim to play judge and jury.

Instead, it provides educators with data—like an overall percentage of AI-generated content in a paper—leaving the final call on misconduct up to human judgment. “We’re not here to determine guilt,” the company explains.

“We’re here to give educators the resources to make informed decisions.”

This approach is refreshing in a tech landscape often obsessed with automation. By embedding AI detection into its existing workflow, Turnitin strikes a balance between leveraging cutting-edge tools and preserving the human element that’s so vital to education.

As Annie Chechitelli, Turnitin’s chief product officer, puts it: “We’re at an important juncture in education where technologies are transforming learning, and the need for academic integrity is more critical than ever.”

What’s Next for Education?

The rise of AI in student writing isn’t a problem to be “solved”—it’s a reality to be navigated.

Turnitin’s data suggests that banning AI outright might be a losing battle, given how entrenched it’s become in just a few years. Instead, the focus should shift to adaptation.

What does acceptable AI use look like in the classroom? How can essay prompts evolve to encourage critical thinking over regurgitation? And how can schools foster a culture of integrity when the tools at students’ fingertips are more powerful than ever?

Turnitin is doing its part to spark these discussions. Alongside its detection tool, the company has released an interactive graphic linking to articles on AI in education—a resource worth exploring for anyone curious about this shift.

They’ve also taken care to explain phenomena like “false positives,” ensuring transparency about how their technology works.

The Bigger Picture

The story here isn’t just about AI detection; it’s about the future of learning. Students are using tools like ChatGPT because they’re accessible, efficient, and—let’s face it—pretty darn good at what they do.

Rather than viewing this as a threat, educators have a chance to harness AI as a partner in education, guiding students to use it ethically and creatively.

Turnitin’s 200 million paper milestone is more than a statistic—it’s a snapshot of a generation embracing technology in ways we’re only beginning to understand. The question now is whether education can keep up.

Open dialogue, updated policies, and a willingness to adapt aren’t just suggestions; they’re necessities. Because if one thing’s clear from Turnitin’s data, it’s this: AI isn’t going anywhere—and neither is the need for academic integrity.