What Tools and Techniques Do Colleges Use to Detect AI?

Can colleges detect AI writing? If so, how do they do it? What tools do they use? Are they accurate? If you’ve wondered about any of these, look no further. This wikiHow article answers all your questions about AI detection in a college setting.

Quick Read: Do colleges use AI detection?

Colleges may use AI detection tools along with their own experience with the writing style of students to detect if AI was used. However, AI detection tools are not 100% accurate. Common tools colleges use include: GPTZero, Originality.ai, CopyLeaks, TurnItIn, Winston AI, Grammarly, and GPTZero.

Section 1 of 8:

Can colleges detect AI writing?

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They can do so using a combination of AI detection tools as well as their own experience with a student’s writing style and the writing style of students in general. However, it is not possible to detect AI with 100% accuracy. The policy on AI use may vary from one institution to another. It’s important that you follow the policies implemented by the school you are attending regarding the use of AI.

Section 2 of 8:

What about college admissions?

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These colleges may or may not use AI detection tools. Many colleges do not have an official policy on the issue. College admissions essays are meant to reflect a student’s actual writing style and experience. If a student uses AI, it may not accurately reflect their actual skills and experience. Unless the college you are applying for has a policy or guideline that states otherwise, you should avoid using AI in college admissions.^{[1]
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Section 3 of 8:

What AI detectors do colleges use?

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There are a variety of AI detectors that professors and college officials can use. Which tools are used may vary depending on the college or the professor. Professors may use one or more AI detection tools or they may use an AI detection tool in conjunction with their own familiarity with the writing style of students. Some professors may opt to not use AI detection tools. The following are some common AI detection tools that colleges may use:^{[2]
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- TurnItIn: TurnItIn is a common tool used by colleges. It was originally developed to detect plagiarism (plagiarism is a common problem with AI writing) by comparing a student’s writing to a database of written work. TurnItIn has since incorporated AI detection tools into its software to assist with assessing academic integrity. TurnItIn is generally not accessible to individual users as it requires a consultation with a sales representative for a learning institution to purchase a subscription.^{[3]
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- GPTZero: GPTZero was designed by a Princeton University science undergrad student and claims to be one of the more accurate AI detection models. It is free to use for individuals and provides explanations for its results rather than a generic numerical score.
- Originality.ai: Originality.ai claims to be one of the most accurate AI detectors on the market, boasting multiple independent studies. They offer tools to detect AI, plagiarism and fact checking.
- Grammarly: Grammarly started out as a grammar and spell-checking tool. They have recently added an AI detection tool and plagiarism detection tool as part of their academic integrity toolkit. Grammarly claims to track original content to promote careful interpretations rather than making definitive claims.
- Scribbr: Scribbr is similar to Grammarly in that they started off as a grammar and spell-checking tool. They have also added an AI-detection tool to their software suite, and they offer unlimited checks for free. However, they are pretty upfront about the fact that the accuracy of their AI detector is average at best.
- CopyLeaks: CopyLeaks is an AI detection tool that supports multiple languages. If it flags a piece of writing as AI-generated, it provides a detailed report with explanations as to why it was flagged. While the company claims to have high accuracy, it still acknowledges that false flags and false positives are possible.
- Winston.ai: Winston.ai boasts high accuracy and claims to be the industry leader in AI detection. They claim to be able to detect all AI models, including ChatGPT-4o, Google Gemini, and more. It’s designed for writers and content creators. They offer subscription plans for individuals and institutions.
- Writer.com: Writer.com offers a variety of AI services. They also offer a free AI detection tool that will check up to 5000 words for free.
- Crossplag: Crossplag’s DetectX tool is trained on both AI and human writing and compares those styles to the writing that is submitted. Crossplag offers a pay-as-you-go option for individuals as well as a subscription service for institutions.
- Passed.ai: Passed.ai is designed specifically for educators. It operates through a web browser or browser extension. It offers a subscription service for individuals. Colleges and schools that need more services can contact Passed.ai for a consultation.
- AI Detector Pro: AI Detector Pro is a tool to help students develop a more natural and engaging writing style. Rather than identifying AI writing, AI Detector Pro offers suggestions on how to improve your writing and make it sound better.
- Smodin: Smodin is another plagiarism checker that offers options for checking AI writing. It offers advanced options for detecting specific AI tasks.
- Quill.org: Quill.org offers an affordable subscription service. It detects AI by comparing submissions to past submissions in order to detect the likelihood that AI was used.

Section 4 of 8:

How do AI detectors work?

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AI detectors analyze text to determine the likelihood that it was generated by AI. They do this by analyzing sentence structure, word predictability, and common patterns found in AI writing to determine if the text or a part of the text was AI-generated. Some AI detectors may compare the writing to a database of other examples of AI writing to determine if there is a match in style. Additionally, some AI detectors may also include plagiarism detectors that analyze writing against a database of existing works to detect plagiarism. Since AI algorithms are trained on existing works, it is not uncommon for AI text generators to unintentionally plagiarize existing writing.

Section 5 of 8:

Is it ethical to use AI in a college setting?

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AI can be a useful tool for writing. You could argue that it has its place in a college setting. However, it’s important to understand the limitations of AI and how to use it ethically. Many college professors prefer to focus on teaching ethical use of AI rather than banning it outright. Some colleges have issued guidelines and policies on the proper use of AI, including how to cite AI writing in your work. Check with your professors and the college policy for guidance.

Section 6 of 8:

Are AI detectors accurate?

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AI detectors have not been shown to be accurate. There have been numerous studies that have shown that AI detectors are not reliable or accurate. Educators should take the results of AI detectors with a huge grain of salt. Some AI detectors have performed better in tests, but all AI detectors can be defeated. At best, AI detectors can tell the probability that AI was used, but they cannot tell definitively. Some schools discourage the use of AI detectors by educators. Others state that they should be used as one of many tools. Teachers who suspect AI use should talk with students to find out their writing process rather than accusing them of using AI.^{[4]
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Section 7 of 8:

How can you defeat AI detectors?

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Both your school and your professors may have their own policies and guidelines for AI use. Stay within the acceptable uses of AI. If you are instructed to cite AI writing, make sure you properly cite your AI writing.
There are many limitations to AI that you need to be aware of. AI does not have emotional intelligence. It doesn’t understand user intent. It can draw from sources that are biased or it may not take an emotional stance when one might be expected to. AI may focus on irrelevant details. Perhaps most importantly, AI doesn’t know what’s true and false. It may produce wrong or misleading statements or omit important information.
Use AI to generate mundane sections of text or to break writer's block. If you’re having a hard time coming up with an intro or a specific section, use AI to give you ideas. Don’t rely on it to do the assignment for you.
Rephrase certain sentences and adjust the sentence structure to make them less repetitive.
Go through the writing and replace words with other words that have a similar meaning. Avoid using the same words over and over again.
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Include personal anecdotes and opinions. The best way to make the writing more personal is to include your own thoughts and experiences. Don’t be afraid to include your own ideas and opinions.^{[5]
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- AI writing is often vague and generic, so including specific examples and details will help your writing stand out.
If your writing contains any statements of fact, do some research to make sure they are in fact true statements. Cite legitimate sources to back up those statements. Check to make sure there isn’t any additional information that should be included.
As with any assignment you turn in, you should review it and check it before turning it in. Edit your work to make it sound more natural. Remove any irrelevant details. Add some emotional flare when it feels appropriate. Add your own writing.
The best way to use AI is to use it as a template, rather than a final product. Edit the writing so that it reflects your own unique writing voice. Make sure that any opinions expressed reflect your own thoughts and opinions. If you’re going to put your name on it and claim it as your own, make sure it reflects you as much as possible.

Section 8 of 8:

What if I’m accused of using AI?

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If a professor suspects you of using AI, schedule a meeting with them, especially if you have been falsely accused. Be ready to be open and candid.
Let them know the entire process from start to finish. If you used AI for any parts of the assignment, be upfront and honest about it and explain why you thought it was appropriate.
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Show your work history. Both Google Docs and Word allow you to show the version history of the individual files. This will allow your professor to see your writing process in action from first draft to final product. Use one of the following steps to show your work history for the file you are working on:
- Google Docs: Click File, followed by Version history.
- Word: Click File > File Info > Version history.
Provide any books, articles, and other sources you used during your research process. Provide any notes you took during your research.
As stated before, AI detectors have not been proven to be accurate. You can make the case that since AI detectors cannot provide definitive proof of AI use, they should be taken with a grain of salt. Any consequences as a result from AI detectors should reflect that.^{[6]
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If you are given any guidance on the proper use of AI or told not to use AI at all, be sure to follow the guidance that you are given. Don’t get an attitude. Just promise that you will do better in the future.
Take the incident as a learning experience. Even if you are falsely accused, think about what it is about your writing that gave them that impression. Think about how you can make your own writing sound more natural.