Danish school pupils admit using AI to cheat on assignments

Danish public school pupils are widely using artificial intelligence in class, including to cheat on assignments and answers, DR reports. A new survey by the children’s rights organisation Børns Vilkår found that almost all ninth-grade pupils have used an AI chatbot, while six in 10 say they have used one to cheat. In sixth grade, the figure is nearly four in 10.

The pupils say they are often unsure when using an AI chatbot is acceptable in class and that their schools lack clear rules.

“The children are very uncertain about what actually counts as cheating and what is acceptable. And where there are rules, they vary from teacher to teacher,” said Rasmus Kjeldahl, director of Børns Vilkår.

There are currently rules for using AI during school examinations, but no rules for ordinary lessons. Instead, the Ministry of Education has issued recommendations.

Madicken Luther, chair of Danske Skoleelever, a student organisation, said the lack of clear rules was creating conflict in classrooms.

“Some teachers say it is fine to use AI as a discussion partner, while others say, ‘You will almost be expelled if you use it,’” Luther said.

Both Danske Skoleelever and Børns Vilkår are calling for clear national guidelines on the use of AI in public schools.

Education Minister Magnus Heunicke agreed that national guidelines are needed and said work on them was under way.

“We need national guidelines that clearly say: When should we not use AI tools? And if we are going to use them, how should we do so in a way that benefits children and does not allow them to take the easiest route and end up cheating themselves?” he said.

Heunicke could not say when the guidelines would be introduced. He said they would take effect in schools once the work was complete.

The issue comes as a recent PISA assessment showed that Danish pupils’ reading, mathematics and science skills had fallen sharply. Experts cited AI use as one possible explanation.