Students at all levels have started using ChatGPT - and alternatives like Bard - to write essays that would normally take hours to complete. This has sparked a major debate about "ChatGPT plagiarism." This guide looks at the tools used to detect AI-generated content, the risks of relying on ChatGPT for assignments, and whether using it actually counts as plagiarism.

How to Detect ChatGPT Plagiarism

To spot AI-generated content, you need an AI detection tool. These tools analyze text to determine if it was written by a chatbot like ChatGPT or Bard. But as we'll see, many of them aren’t very accurate.

Detecting AI-generated code is even harder. There aren’t as many detection tools for code as there are for written content. However, if a student submits code far beyond their skill level, a professor might suspect they got help from ChatGPT.

Do AI Detectors Actually Work?

Even Turnitin, a well-known plagiarism checker, admits that AI detection isn't foolproof. Our tests showed major flaws in many popular tools. For example, Duplichecker, which claims to be 100% accurate, made obvious mistakes.

Because false positives exist, students can always argue their work was misidentified. If AI detection tools aren’t completely reliable, how can they be used fairly?

Using AI for Work or School

ChatGPT and Bard aren’t the only AI chatbots—there are others like Claude. But unless an AI tool is backed by a strong language model, it may not be as useful.

No matter which AI you use, the same rules apply:

• Get approval from your teacher or manager before using it.
• Don’t enter sensitive information.
• Always check AI-generated answers for accuracy.

AI is changing how we write and work, but it still has flaws. Whether you’re a student or a professional, it’s essential to use it responsibly.