Louisiana State University gymnast and social media star Olivia Dunne brought to light the growing popularity of Artificial Intelligence writing programs in a social media post made on Feb. 26. 

Using her large TikTok platform of 7.2 million followers, Dunne posted an advertisement for Caktus Artificial Intelligence, an AI that writes essays for students. In the ad, she shows how to use the program, which, due to her large following, can influence students to use AI programming to write their essays.

“Need to get my creativity flowing for an essay due at midnight,” Dunne said in a TikTok video endorsing Caktus AI.

While AI essay programs can be used for inspiration before writing, copying and submitting an AI-generated essay is an act of plagiarism that conflicts with LSU’s no-tolerance policy. Because of Dunne’s massive following, the university was prompted to act.

“At LSU, our professors and students are empowered to use technology for learning and pursuing the highest standards of academic integrity,”  LSU said in a statement. “However, using AI to produce work that a student then represents as one’s own could result in a charge of academic misconduct, as outlined in the Code of Student Conduct.”

However, the Code of Conduct does not specifically comment on the use of AI yet. To address the situation, LSU is making moves to draw the line between what is considered permitted use and what will be plagiarism. 

“This is an ideal opportunity to reflect on our current teaching practices, experiment with new opportunities, and brainstorm ways they could be utilized effectively in a classroom,” LSU posted in an explainer.

Many schools throughout the country are facing issues with AI technology in the classroom. Stone Bridge has made an effort in order to prevent the use of such programs by blocking and using technology to recognize it. And, while the technology may seem like an easy and effective way to complete assignments, teachers are on the lookout for use of automated essay writing tools.

“As an English teacher, I know that a lot of work that comes from a student sounds very, very different from the work that comes from an AI bot.” English teacher Kevin Winshimer said. “Students should be wary of using those kinds of tools whenever they are supposed to come up with their own original writing.”