China Disables AI Chatbots During College Exams
To maintain the integrity of the rigorous "gaokao" college entrance examinations, several prominent Chinese AI companies have proactively disabled key features of their chatbot services. This temporary measure, implemented during the June 7th-10th exam period, aims to prevent students from using AI to cheat.
Alibaba's Qwen and ByteDance's Doubao have limited picture recognition capabilities, while Tencent's Yuanbao and Moonshot's Kimi have suspended photo-recognition services entirely. This action mirrors similar precautions taken by other AI tools, including DeepSeek, which temporarily blocked access to its service.
The decision comes as the increasing accessibility of sophisticated AI chatbots poses a significant challenge to educational institutions globally. The gaokao, a highly competitive exam with millions of participants vying for limited university places, necessitates stringent measures to ensure fairness.
Global Concerns About AI and Academic Integrity
The issue isn't limited to China. Reports indicate a rise in the use of AI for cheating in educational settings worldwide. In response, some US schools are exploring a return to traditional paper-based assessments to mitigate the risk of AI-facilitated cheating.
While no official announcements have been made by the AI companies involved, reports suggest that the temporary suspensions are a direct response to concerns about cheating. This proactive approach underscores the growing awareness of AI's potential to disrupt educational environments and the urgent need for strategies to maintain academic integrity.
Source: The Verge