Universities seek to restrict AI use by students

LU PING/CHINA DAILY As university students around China busily prepared for their final exams in January before the semester ended, artificial intelligence played the role of a learning buddy more frequently than ever before. "The use of particular AI functions banned for students writing graduation theses reflect the specific abilities we focus on developing in youngsters, and what kind of people we ultimately aim to cultivate," said the head of the academic affairs division at Fudan University, who did not wish to be named. Fudan University's regulations state that use of AI tools are banned for designing research plans, building algorithms and model frameworks, devising thesis structure, and summarizing conclusions. "We hope AI will empower young people, rather than replace them in doing work with original innovation," said the head of the academic affairs division at Fudan University. In July, Beijing Normal University's School of Journalism and Communication and Shanghai-based East China Normal University's School of Communication jointly released a user guide for students regarding the use of generative AI.