Brown University Professor's In-Person Final Cuts AI Cheating, Scores Drop 50%

Suspecting widespread AI-assisted cheating, a Brown University professor switched to an in-person final exam, causing average scores to drop by roughly 50% compared to prior take-home tests.

The case highlights how even elite, high-achieving students are turning to generative AI tools under academic pressure, raising alarm among faculty about eroding critical thinking skills.

The professor warned that unchecked AI reliance risks producing a "failed society" if students stop learning to think independently.

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Brown University Professor's In-Person Final Cuts AI Cheating, Scores Drop 50%https://arstechnica.com/ai/2026/07/we-cannot-choose-to-become-idiots-the-ai-cheating-scandal-roiling-brown-university/