As AI tools like Grammarly become more widely used by students, many educators are turning to AI detectors to help determine whether work is genuinely student-written. But before relying too heavily on these tools, it’s important to understand what they can — and can’t — do.
What Are AI Detectors, and How Do They Work?
AI detectors are software tools that estimate how likely it is that a piece of text was written by an AI model. They look for things like overly predictable phrasing, repetitive sentence structure, or a lack of stylistic variation — all of which can be common in machine-generated content.
Sounds helpful, right? It can be — but only when used carefully.
The Catch: Accuracy Isn’t Guaranteed
Here’s the thing: AI detectors aren’t foolproof. They can get it wrong in both directions:
-
False positives: Human-written work can be mistakenly flagged as AI-generated. This is especially common for non-native English speakers or students who write in a very formal or structured way.
-
False negatives: AI-written content can also slip through undetected, especially when students make small edits to generated text.
This creates a difficult situation in education, where accusations of misconduct can have serious consequences.
Don’t Let Detectors Make the Final Call
It’s tempting to use technology as a shortcut, especially when time is tight. But AI detectors should be just one part of a wider approach to academic integrity. What else should schools and colleges be doing?
1. Use Authorship Tracking Tools
Some platforms (like the ones we support) offer tools that show how a piece of work was developed over time, highlighting edits, revisions, and the writing journey. This can be far more useful than a one-off probability score.
2. Encourage Transparency
If your students are using AI to support their writing — whether it’s brainstorming ideas or checking grammar — encourage open discussion. The goal should be learning, not punishment.
3. Create Clear AI Guidelines
Make sure your students and staff know what’s acceptable when it comes to AI tools. Define what counts as support and what crosses the line into dishonesty.
Conclusion
If you’re not sure how to approach AI use in your school or college, or want to explore tools that help you monitor and guide student writing, we can help. From policy development to trusted technology solutions, we’re here to advise, remember – AI in education isn’t going anywhere — but panic doesn’t need to be part of the picture. Let’s work together to find smart, student-focused solutions.
Want to talk through your AI strategy?
Just drop us an email at schools@academia.co.uk or why not take a look at our Grammarly website page for more information.
