Academic honesty in the use of AI

Academic integrity is a central value at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) and forms the foundation of trust in teaching, learning, and research processes. The incorporation of generative Artificial Intelligence tools introduces new scenarios that require conceptual clarity in order to avoid confusion and ensure appropriate use.

It is important to emphasise that using generative AI does not constitute plagiarism, since these tools do not copy specific works; they generate new content based on learned patterns.

However, its use can create issues of academic honesty when it is not explicitly disclosed or when it replaces the intellectual process that students are expected to undertake.

According to the Protocol on Academic Ethics and the Prevention of Dishonest or Fraudulent Practices, plagiarism consists of copying ideas, texts, or other materials without proper citation and presenting them as one’s own.
Even though AI does not directly reproduce pre-existing works, it can generate texts or formulations that students may present as if they were their own. In such cases, the violation does not stem from the tool itself but from the lack of transparency, which may constitute academic fraud.

Furthermore, relying on AI to produce substantial parts of an assignment without indicating it can hinder the acquisition of the competencies required in each course. Academic authorship involves a reflective, analytical, and argumentative process that cannot be fully delegated to a generative tool without compromising learning.

The current context adds additional challenges:
AI-text detectors produce high rates of false positives, human intuition is unreliable for determining authorship, and tools exist that can modify texts to make AI involvement undetectable.

For this reason, the appropriate strategy is not to prohibit AI, but to promote clear criteria for responsible use, grounded in transparency, supervision, and academic rigor.

Within this framework, UPV/EHU establishes a fundamental principle:
“Using AI is not plagiarism. Concealing its use or delegating academic authorship to it may constitute fraud.”

AI can be a valuable resource for enriching learning, academic writing, and reflection. When used with honesty and sound judgement, it contributes to a more innovative, responsible, and ethically robust educational environment.