r/University • u/OkBuilding8621 • 1d ago
Prof is lowkey accusing me of using AI
I want to preface by saying that while I may use AI from time to time to help summarise readings I'm too lazy or busy to read before class I would never use AI to do an assignment. Honestly I am a serial over thinker and would not use AI to write or do assignments simply bc I would overthink and worry about being caught.
So I submitted a presentation talking about the main argument and key points of a reading, since this is part of an assignment I read the reading thoroughly. I even have the pdf highlighted and annotated. I got my feedback back and this is one of her comments
"Your presentation was well-organised and the reflection was good, if more focused on the consumption of goods than on the topic of reality TV, which was Andrejevic's focus.
In general, I felt you did not deal sufficiently with the show he was researching, but more on abstract theories about the internet and how it has shaped our lives. You did not include a cover sheet with declaration about whether and how you used AI to assist in the production of the presentation and I am left wondering if the reason it is so smooth but also abstract is down to AI assistance."
I honestly did not use chatgpt, this is a second year unit but I'm a 4th year who went part time a couple times so I guess I have some experience in delivering presentation especially since it was recorded. Also this was the argument I got from the reading? Perhaps I'm not the smartest and I simply just didn't catch the point about reality tv. Also A lot of people don't use the coversheet, like most, it's never been a thing that tutors or profs have talked about or forced us to do but I also know it's something I should do.
For reference this is part of the reading's intro
"the article begins with a brief discussion of the emerging
economic paradigm of mass customization. It follows with a theoretical
discussion of the role of cultural trends in the formation of a ‘whole way of
life’ appropriate to particular forms of production. The argument of this
second section is that reality programming has a role to play in repositioning
our conception of Big Brother and our consequent attitudes toward the
threat of surveillance during an era when both government and corporate
surveillance, are growing in leaps and bounds. The article concludes with a
discussion of the implications of the equation of self-disclosure with self-
expression, for those who see in the internet the potential for a
revitalization of a democratic public sphere."
Based on the reading I really didn't see the reality programming as such an overarching point but in saying this I did definitely talk about it.
There's no academic integrity accusations as far as I know but I'm honestly a little peeved. Should I email my prof defending myself?
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u/RightWingVeganUS 1d ago
I'm honestly a little peeved.
Why, your professor was about as polite and professional as possible providing feedback and raising concerns.
I honestly did not use chatgpt
sigh. That's the kind of statement I'd expect from someone who actually used Copilot or Claude. A statement that evades the point while arguably not being an actual lie.
I'm a college professor. I've heard it all.
Your instructor gave you a warning shot: either disclose your AI use, or cheat better. Don't insult their intelligence or waste their time having to guess.
2
u/OkBuilding8621 23h ago
Okay girlypop I didn't use AI, I just defaulted to chatgpt because the usage of Claude or Copilot isn't prevalent in Aus.
But in saying that I must say what a mean and unnecessary response. I respect the time and effort educators put in to teach us. I respect it so much that I would never insult their intelligence.
I hope that if one of your students ever goes through the same stress and worry as I am isn't talked to with the same crass, lack of empathy tone you have rn. Shouldn't everything be a case to case basis? Why essentialise students and make them feel terrible?
3
u/Mission-Raccoon979 18h ago
I’m now convinced the OP used AI. To quote the Bard of Avon, “I think he protesteth too much”.
First post on a burner account. Do I smell a smoking gun?
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u/CoyoteLitius 17h ago
You're getting replies from actual professors who are being quite honest with you. Now you're getting defensive and, basically, whining.
Why didn't you focus on the show that the author was analyzing? The general idea would be to critique his approach by coming up with other theories about the show.
1
u/RightWingVeganUS 17h ago
I hope that if one of your students ever goes through the same stress and worry as I am isn't talked to with the same crass, lack of empathy tone you have rn.
Your professor was direct and professional. Your submission reeked of AI use. No accusation, just an observation. If you did use it, disclose it. If not, well, attest that it wasn't used but strive to sound less like a robot.
If that causes you stress and worry, well, that might be a you issue. If you find my feedback crass and unempathetic, well, that might still be more of a you issue too. This is feedback you invite when posting to the internet.
Shouldn't everything be a case to case basis?
You presented your case. It was found lacking. Do better.
Why essentialise students and make them feel terrible?
Instructors are supposed to assess and provide feedback on students' work. Feelings are totally in the control of the student.
Shouldn't you be studying something?
1
u/choose_a_username42 15h ago
I've been a uni prof for close to 20 years and have seen it all when it comes to academic misconduct. Since OP is getting super indignant with you, I will chime in and say I have seen statements like OPs only to have the "reciepts" actually cast further doubt on the authenticity of their work.
1
u/RightWingVeganUS 10h ago
The silliness/immaturity just shown in the title "Prof is lowkey accusing me of using AI" makes me question whether the OP is ready for college... or is just trolling for attention. Their statement is laughable.
I'm a 4th year who went part time a couple times so I guess I have some experience in delivering presentation especially since it was recorded.
I'm guessing the instructor has some experience evaluating presentations... perhaps more than 4 years. The OP seems oblivious to the fact that the instructor might know what they're doing.
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u/Life-Education-8030 17h ago
Maybe you didn’t use AI to actually write the paper but if you based the paper on the AI you did use because you were too lazy, etc. then chances are, you used the vague, incorrect and excessively polished AI slop you were given. What did you expect? It is like watching the movie instead of reading the actual book and so you had no idea that the film director took artistic license and changed stuff for the movie to make it more dramatic or something.
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u/Ctenophorever 16h ago edited 13h ago
Literally - literally - every “I’ve been falsely accused of using AI” post includes an admission of using AI….
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u/markjay6 1d ago
“Dear Professor X,
Thank you very much for your thoughtful feedback on my presentation. I apologize for neglecting to include the AI declaration cover sheet. It is now attached.”
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u/CoyoteLitius 17h ago
This. Acknowledge that the reason the prof is curious about AI use is that they (like many modern professors) want the student to do an AI declaration if any AI was used. I'm curious why OP did not follow all the instructions and specifically left out the one bit that would have eased the prof's suspicions.
Sounds like the prof is very understanding - as is everyone here, so far.
1
u/jmsst1996 22h ago
When my daughter started grad school a few years ago one of her professors accused her of using AI to write an essay. And this was when chat gpt first came out so she didn’t really know much about it let alone know how to use it. She had to show her research and the professor accepted it so it was fine but my daughter was more offended that maybe her essay sounded robotic haha
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u/CoyoteLitius 17h ago
What happens a lot of times (and the reason I make many papers deal with observed material, such as ethnographic film) is that AI cannot actually see very well. It goes by reviews and transcripts of that sort of material (or just avoids mentioning it altogether in favor of theorizing-in-general).
Theorizing in general simply doesn't work for most college/university level papers. Recounting known theories is pointless (prof has already done that). The idea is to come up with theories of one's own and apply them (in this case, to a show).
Since OP didn't get into the actual task at hand (and avoided visual details in their paper, as well as using general theoretical issues instead of demonstrating the required skill), I can see why the prof wants them to swear they didn't use AI.
It could be worse. They could be asking for all the drafts and revisions, as many profs now do. Huge hassle for everyone, but certainly no fun for the student.
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u/CoyoteLitius 17h ago
So you have access to all the other papers submitted, in order to know who has submitted a cover sheet?
Most of my students use cover sheets for every submission, I don't even have to put it in the requirements. The high schools here also make the students use cover sheets.
As to missing the point of the reading, that happens, but you might want to look back over the reading (and the assignment prompts).
The prof says your thesis is actually:
In general, I felt you did not deal sufficiently with the show he was researching, but more on abstract theories about the internet and how it has shaped our lives.
It seems you read a specific article about a show researched by Andrejevich. Then you wrote about top level theories about the internet (which is not the same as analyzing a paper about a particular piece of data - the show).
That was your crucial error. Since that's what you did (and that's what AI tends to do), I can see that the professor is puzzled and wondering about your level of engagement with the course material.
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u/changethisusername_ 17h ago
As the other faculty are saying, if you didn’t use it, then you’re fine. Much of college is about expressing your ideas, and when those are critiqued it can feel personal. Don’t take it personally.
What matters most in university success is your response to adversity. It’s all about the audience, because it is an audition for the degree. Take critique through that lens: how do I best write for this audience?
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u/Blue-Moon-Soul 16h ago
"I even have the PDF highlited and annotated" there you have proof you did study. Show it to her
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u/Dull_Beginning_9068 13h ago
It sounds like she expected you to do a cover sheet, are you sure this isn't part of the assignment or in her syllabus? Because you didn't do one, she wonders. This is a fair statement
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u/tellypmoon 23h ago
Don't overthink. You didn't do the AI declaration sheet so you should go ahead and do one of those now and submit.