In a novel approach to testing student integrity, Jason Gibson, a history lecturer at Alcorn State University in Mississippi, devised an ingenious method to identify those relying on artificial intelligence for their assignments. He incorporated a hidden instruction within the exam, presented in an invisible white font, which prompted students to simply copy it into a chatbot. This hidden directive required them to include a bizarre reference to Madagascar in their responses. Consequently, some submissions featured peculiar phrases like, "Madagascar sails sideways through the afternoon," or "the Madagascan purple bicycle whispers to the ceiling," despite the exam focusing on the Industrial Revolution. The outcome exceeded Gibson's expectations; 32 out of 35 students from two classes fell into the trap and replicated the odd phrases in their work, seemingly without reviewing the results. Gibson clarified that his intention was not to embarrass the students. Following the exam, he informed them about how he identified the AI usage and offered them the chance to contest their grades, though only two students chose to take advantage of this opportunity. This incident raises a significant question: Are traditional exams becoming obsolete in the age of AI?
Informational material. 18+.
