How students are using artificial intelligence to write essays
And the best AI content writing software to do it in 2022!
For tons of advice from myself and others, visit the Jasper Facebook group!
Many students find writing essays to be a daunting task. Not only do they have to come up with an original and well-argued thesis, but they have to support their claims and structure their thoughts in a convincing manner. Jasper AI is writing software that can help students with this difficult task.
You can get private tutoring on how to use the Jasper AI writing assistant by visiting www.TheJasperWhisperer.com
People use robots to write now?!
Professionals already use automated article writing software to write blog posts, digital ad copy, product descriptions and other marketing collateral.
Increasingly, we’re seeing students innovate and use the technology to quickly generate ideas, outline a draft, and craft essays with high-quality content that are well-argued and well-written. There are several AI programs marketed to students. A number of essay-generating applications were released in 2021.
Can I use AI to write an essay?
Jasper AI can be a valuable tool for students who want to improve their essay writing. Jasper AI uses artificial intelligence to read and analyze text, identify key points, and suggest relevant content. In addition, it can provide guidance on essay structure and word choice, and create compelling long-form content.
You can try out the best AI writing software for free here.
To find out more about AI content creation join the Facebook group.
Is it cheating to use an ai writing assistant software?
The jury is out! We’d love to know your thoughts, so make sure to leave a comment below. Join the conversation!
An argument in favour of college students using an AI content generator is that technology can help them to learn and improve their writing skills.
Second, AI essay writers can help students to save time. This frees up valuable time that can be spent on other tasks, like studying for their exams.
Third, it levels the playing field for students with different abilities. Some students are naturally gifted writers, while others struggle with writing.
As one student said in an interview recently:
I have the knowledge, I have the lived experience, I’m a good student, I go to all the tutorials and I go to all the lectures and I read everything we have to read but I kind of felt I was being penalised because I don’t write eloquently and I didn’t feel that was right.
It’s a fair point.
AI writing software can level the playing field by providing all students with access to the same tools and resources. Students can quickly generate content ideas, outline a draft, and write essays that are well-argued and well-written.
It’s plagiarism to be using AI writing software tools! Right?
Some people argue that using an AI writer is cheating. They believe students are gaming the system to gain an unfair advantage, using systems designed to create engaging content and marketing copy for professionals, not academic papers.
One university proctor, in the same article, makes a draconian claim:
If the final product doesn’t have your blood, sweat and tears firmly and clearly at the centre of it then you have probably crossed from legitimate to not legitimate.
There are three main arguments against students using an AI writing assistant to generate an entire essay in just a few clicks:
The lack of a creative writing process, the potential for plagiarism, and academic dishonesty (because it’s not the student’s own words/work).
Additionally, there is the competitive aspect to consider.
If one student is using an AI essay writer while another student is not, the student not using the software may feel at a disadvantage. It’s like taking a test where some people are allowed to use a calculator and others are not.
They have access to technology that the vast majority of their fellow students do not have (which is why I like making this 5-days free version available for everyone to use — it’s fair).
However, there is no clear consensus. Some argue that using AI software is not cheating because the students are still required to know their stuff. Students still must make sure they understand the arguments that they are making. They just have assistance in generating ideas and structuring their thoughts, overcoming grammar mistakes and importantly: writer’s block.
A balanced approach from college policymakers
There is a middle ground between these two positions. Some believe that it is acceptable to use AI essay writers to create articles, as long as the student discloses that they have used such a tool.
Dr Lucinda McKnight, a curriculum expert at Deakin University, weighs in:
We should be getting students to acknowledge how they’ve used AI as another kind of source for their writing. That is the way to move forwards, rather than to punish students for using them.
What do you think? Should students disclose if they have used an AI writer in the content creation process? Or is it simply another tool that can help students to improve their writing ability? Should the use of AI tools be allowed without disclosure? Let us know in the comments below!
Are students writing essays with AI writing tools?
Yes. In two years, demand for AI writing services has increased five-fold, according to Article Forge CEO Alex Cardinell. Dr McKnight concurs:
I can tell you without a doubt that kids are widely using these things
It’s hard to say exactly what percentage of students use AI. What we do know is that as AI essay writing is becoming more sophisticated, they are being used by an increasing number of students. So, it’s worth keeping an eye on this developing technology. Who knows, you may be using an AI writer in the future, and competing against others who are using AI to get ahead!
Will I get caught?
There is no easy answer to this question.
But as artificial intelligence writing tools become more sophisticated, it will become harder and harder to detect whether a student has used such a tool.
It’s not like “essay mills” or purchasing an essay off the internet, which are relatively easy to detect, even with basic search engines. Most universities have plagiarism detection software that can cross-check essays against a database of existing content. But AI content is not in these databases — because it is freshly created each time by machine learning algorithms.
It’s also not the same as “content spinners”, which just replace words with synonyms and can easily be spotted by a tutor.
True AI writing is much more sophisticated. It generates completely original content that sounds like it’s been written by a human, so it’s harder to detect.
If you’re a student thinking about using artificial intelligence essay writing, my advice is to be upfront about it with your tutor. Pitch it as a good use of technology, like Grammarly, Hemmingway App, or any of the other great tools out there. There are some risks involved, but if you’re honest about it, you may be able to find a middle ground that works for both you and your tutor.
The best AI is usually only used by professional writers. Over 3000 five-star reviews recommend Jasper. It has the “human touch”, unlimited writing styles, and an optional plagiarism checker for long-form content. But you probably won’t need to use the plagiarism checker. Content written by machine learning is usually unique because it is procedurally generated.
How do AI writing tools work?
- NLP, or Natural Language Processing, is a branch of AI that deals with understanding and generating human language.
- AI writing tools work by using a deep learning model to predict what word should come next in a sentence, based on a set of training data.
- The technology behind these tools is known as “Transformer”, which is like a supercharged version of text messaging auto-complete.
- Transformer is the basis for GPT (which stands for Generative Pre-trained Transformer), as well as other multiple languages models.
Ethical essay writing with artificial intelligence — a How-To-Guide
There is a way to use artificial intelligence writers without cheating:
- Use AI writing software as a tool, not a crutch. Don’t rely on the software to do all the work for you. Use it as a guide to help you improve your written word.
- Supplement with your own input and research. Include your own analysis and interpretation in your essays.
- Factcheck everything. Don’t just regurgitate what the AI writing tool spits out. Cite your sources. If you use information from other sources, make sure to cite them properly.
- Be upfront about it. If you’re using AI essay writing software, let your tutor know. Some may be okay with it, as long as you’re not just copying and pasting the output into your essay.
Used ethically, AI content generation software can help students write better essays — faster!
Conclusion: Artificial Intelligence or Natural Talent?
Some people are born with a natural talent for writing, while others have to work at it. AI can help anyone who wants to augment their writing output.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this blog post. What are your thoughts on students using professional AI writing technology? Let us know in comments below!
And if you’re interested in learning more about AI and its potential applications, check out our other blog posts:
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