Turnitin Embraces AI: New Tool to Foster Supervised Writing
Turnitin, known for its plagiarism detection software, is changing its tune. The company is set to release Turnitin Clarity, an online platform designed to enable students to write with AI, but under the watchful eye of their teachers. This marks a significant turn for Turnitin, which previously developed AI detectors to flag AI-generated content.
This new product arrives as educators and parents are still figuring out how to effectively manage the use of AI in education. When tools like ChatGPT emerged in late 2022, schools moved quickly to prevent students from using them for academic dishonesty. For example, the New York City Department of Education blocked ChatGPT on school networks and devices, citing concerns related to plagiarism and potential inaccuracies.
Writing with AI Under Supervision
In a recent blog post, Annie Chechitelli, Turnitin’s product chief, explained that the new tool is designed to encourage students to use AI “ethically and responsibly.” Within the program, students can use an AI writing assistant, and teachers can monitor its use and provide feedback. The details of how the AI assistance will function have not been widely released.
“As generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Co-Pilot, and Gemini evolve, academic institutions are facing growing pressure to help students use AI responsibly,” Chechitelli wrote. She also noted that some schools worry students might become overly reliant on AI, potentially compromising their critical thinking skills.
“Educators lack transparency to verify authorship, ensure fair assessment, and guide ethical writing practices,” she stated. Turnitin Clarity aims to solve this by giving teachers control over when and how students use AI in their assignments; educators will have “full visibility” into how students use AI, from text pasting and typing patterns to draft history. The tool is scheduled to launch in the third quarter as a paid add-on for current Turnitin Feedback Studio users.
Turnitin is a subsidiary of Advance, a private company with investments in a variety of technology, media, and communications businesses.
Some Educators Embrace AI
The rise of AI tools has prompted some educators to consider their potential advantages. For instance, when OpenAI, Microsoft, and Google demonstrated their own chatbots, they highlighted the potential AI has to offer in education.
Curby Alexander, an associate education professor at Texas Christian University, stated that AI has helped his students become better critical thinkers, as they learn to recognize weaknesses in AI-generated content. Arizona State University has also partnered with OpenAI to bring ChatGPT into their classrooms.
