# Students use chatbots to cheat on exams AI-assisted cheating challenges the education system. - **Source:** [FlowingData](https://brifing.si/source/86da369b-760b-453a-8b8d-38c520eca77c) - **Published:** 2026-07-09 - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/10fa235f-c5b5-4de0-9bb8-7325ce9fdacc ## Education in the Age of Cheating A Brown University economics professor discovered that students used AI tools to cheat on a take-home midterm. This situation raises the question of how the education system should respond to new technologies. ## Stark Difference in Results Students who scored high on the midterm performed much worse on the in-person final exam. This revealed that students are resorting to shortcuts rather than developing deep thinking skills. ## Ethical Issues in Education AI-assisted cheating is challenging academic ethics. The use of such tools by students jeopardizes principles of fairness and equality in education. ## Teachers' Response Professor Roberto Serrano decided to conduct the final exam in person due to suspicious circumstances. This shows how educators can take measures against new technologies. ## The Future of Education With the rise of AI tools, the education system needs to change. New assessment methods that measure students' deep thinking skills must be developed. ## Advice for Students Experts recommend that students focus on developing long-term skills rather than short-term gains. AI tools should be used to support the learning process, not hinder it. ## Sources covering this story - https://flowingdata.com/2026/07/09/students-use-chatbots-to-cheat-on-exam/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._