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AI detection tools miss the mark for student assessment
Australian Associated Press（https://thescoop.co/author/aap/）
August 13, 2026
In this photo illustration, AI apps and Atlassian apps are displayed on a phone. (AAP Image/George Chan)
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SYDNEY (AAP) – Using artificial intelligence detection software in universities could risk undermining, rather than protecting, academic integrity.
Artificial intelligence detection tools can wrongly flag students and miss AI-written work, raising concerns about fairness, stress and how universities assess academic integrity.
Research from James Cook University found detection software was often wrong, claiming both false positives and missing examples of AI-generated work.
The tools could create more harm than good, only adding to an already stressful experience being a student, researcher Wayne Bradshaw said.
“You get people trying to write like they’re not AI, which then adds whole layers of stress and existential dread,” Dr Bradshaw told AAP.
“[Students think] I have to write in a way that is not natural to me because I’m concerned about sounding like I’m a machine.
“You have people inserting artificiality into their work to make it sound less artificial.”
Words such as “delve” or “tapestry” and the use of em dashes are considered telltale signs of AI, but may just be part of a student’s vocabulary.
“They’re words which were frequently used by people before they were used by AI,” Dr Bradshaw said.
“And the reason they’re used by AI is because they were used by people.”
Students face conundrums on how to present their work to ensure it hasn’t been enhanced with AI. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)
Students with autism, or from linguistically diverse backgrounds, can also be unfairly targeted by AI detection tools.
It comes as NSW Education Minister Prue Carr has called for a ban on take-home assignments for the state’s year 12 students, due to the threat of AI.
The Townsville-based researcher understands the sentiment, and believes universities should be redesigning assessments to be more easily supervised, including pen and paper exams, discussions, experiments and fieldwork in the grading process.