The University of Cape Town (UCT) is set to discontinue using Turnitin, a tool previously employed to detect plagiarism and generative AI use in student submissions, as it rolls out a new Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education framework.

Turnitin’s analysis often produced false positives or negatives, prompting concerns about fairness and accuracy, according to UCT. The new framework aims to address these issues while fostering a deeper understanding of AI’s role in academic settings.

Sukaina Walji, Director at UCT’s Centre for Innovation in Teaching and Learning, emphasized the importance of educating students about generative AI. “They need to be aware that these tools can produce biased outputs or emphasize particular viewpoints. Users must also consider privacy issues when uploading data,” Walji said. She added that understanding AI’s design and limitations empowers students to make ethical decisions about its use.

The new framework will guide students and staff on responsible AI integration, ensuring academic integrity and fairness in assessments.