- Professor Roberto Serrano discovered mass cheating via AI in his advanced economics course at Brown University, with at least 50 students involved in the midterm exam.
- University officials initially responded with silence, later calling it a 'wake-up call,' but Serrano argues for a public debate to defend academic integrity.
- Serrano, a blind economist and game theory expert, adapted the course with take-home exams, which led to unusually high scores (average 96/100), signaling AI use.
- After switching to an in-person final exam, the average score dropped to 48/100, and many high-scoring midterm students did not show up, providing overwhelming evidence of fraud.
- The context includes a campus shooting that affected students and influenced Serrano's decision to offer take-home exams to ease anxiety, making the cheating incident more painful.
- AI is changing traditions at elite universities, such as Princeton ending its honor code system, as cheating becomes easier and more tempting for students.
- Serrano calls for addressing AI's impact openly to preserve higher education's credibility, warning against sweeping such issues under the rug.