OpenAI Launches AI Text Classifier for Detecting AI-Generated Writing

OpenAI, the AI technology company based in San Francisco and maker of the highly popular AI system ChatGPT, has launched a new tool to help address the concerns surrounding the use of artificial intelligence in schools. The tool, called AI Text Classifier, is designed to identify writing that was produced not by students, but by AI programs.

While ChatGPT has become a popular tool for millions of users around the world, including teenagers and college students, some education officials have expressed concerns that it could fuel academic dishonesty and harm learning. These concerns have led several school districts in the United States, including New York City, Los Angeles, and Seattle, to block the use of ChatGPT in classrooms and on school devices.

However, OpenAI warns that the new AI Text Classifier tool, like others already available, is not perfect and “will be wrong sometimes.” The tool uses a method for detecting AI-written writing but much of how it actually works is not well understood. According to Jan Leike of OpenAI, the longer a piece of writing is, the better the tool is at detecting if an AI system or a human wrote it.

While the AI Text Classifier tool has limitations, OpenAI believes it could still help to detect disinformation campaigns, misuse of AI to mimic humans, and plagiarism. In response to criticism, the company has been working to create new recommendations to help educators responsibly use AI technology.

Colleges around the world have also begun to debate the responsible use of AI technology, with France’s famous university, Sciences Po, banning the use of ChatGPT and other AI tools to produce written or spoken work. Digital economy minister Jean-Noël Barrot recently met with OpenAI leaders and expressed hope for the technology, but acknowledged the difficult moral questions that need to be dealt with.

In conclusion, while the AI Text Classifier tool is not perfect, it could still play an important role in detecting AI-written writing and helping educators make informed decisions. However, it is important for users to understand how these systems work, including their biases, so they can make informed decisions about their use.