Professor denounces mass AI fraud on an exam at Brown University

4 hours ago

Roberto Serrano, an economics professor at Brown University, detected massive cheating on a take-home midterm exam in his ECON 1170 course, with overwhelming evidence that at least 50 students used AI.
The university's initial response was muted, but Serrano advocates for a public debate to defend academic integrity, warning that AI threatens higher education's prestige and utility.
Serrano, a blind economist and game theory expert, adapted his teaching methods due to a campus shooting that affected his students, leading him to offer take-home exams to ease anxiety.
After the midterm saw unusually high scores, the in-person final exam average plummeted to 48/100, and many top midterm performers skipped it, confirming widespread fraud.
Serrano plans changes for future courses, such as removing AI-vulnerable assignments and eliminating take-home exams, to combat cheating incentives.
The incident reflects broader challenges at elite U.S. universities, where AI facilitates deception, prompting institutions like Princeton to revise long-standing honor code practices.
Serrano criticizes the university for potentially favoring wealthy donors' children and emphasizes the need to uphold truth and honesty in academia amidst technological temptations.

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