Tokyo: Universities in Japan have begun adopting policies regarding the use of ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence-driven chatbots for educational purposes, following the rapid spread of the AI technology.

While many universities are adopting policies prohibiting or restricting use of AI chatbots in writing reports and papers, others have sought to make use of the new technology.

In a document posted on the University of Tokyo’s website for students and faculty members earlier this month, Kunihiro Ota, the university’s executive vice president, said that the technology has brought change comparable to the rise of genetic engineering.

Ota said that he had used an AI chatbot himself and felt that it could significantly impact the grading of students.

The document cautions that students are expected to write their reports themselves and cannot rely solely on AI. It said that the university will soon issue guidelines on AI use in lessons.

Sophia University made it clear in a statement that it will not allow the use of ChatGPT or similar services for writing reports and papers, saying that text generated by such tools is not created by the students themselves.

The university said that it will take strict action against students found to have used the AI service, in the same way that it does for cases of plagiarism.

Tohoku University called on its students to follow the instructions of the lecturers, saying that AI use may be prohibited and be seen as plagiarism in some lessons.

Meanwhile, there were also calls for accepting the new technology.

Ota from the University of Tokyo pointed out that simply prohibiting the use of AI would not resolve the issue. He urged students and faculty members to “proactively find good uses, new technologies, new legal systems and new social and economic systems.”

Tohoku University told its faculty members that it is not realistic to attempt to completely eliminate the use of AI.

An official of the university said that the school could not block the use of the technology for writing reports and other activities students undertake at home, and said that assignments must be devised based on the possibility that students will use it, such as having students complete assignments in the classroom or having them explain their assignments in their own words.

Kyushu University, which established a working group in February to study how best to respond to the rise of AI chatbots, said that it is better to make good use of the new technology instead of simply banning it. But the university will not fully approve AI chatbot use, and instead will leave it up to each lecturer to decide to allow it or not.

A Kyushu University official said that it will be difficult to enforce a ban on the use of AI, adding, “It may not be possible to completely detect AI use.”

An official of Sophia University said that the school expects students to practice academic integrity.

JIJI Press