ChatEDU: AI in Education Turnitin's Big 180 – From AI Detector to AI Platform | Ep. 49
Overview:
In this episode of ChatEDU (Turnitin's Big 180 – From AI Detector to AI Platform), Matt and Liz explore Turnitin’s surprising shift from an AI detection tool to an AI-assisted writing platform and what this means for educators and students.
In the News:
- The Humanities Strike Back: Notebook LM’s editorial director makes the case for why humanities degrees are more relevant than ever in the AI era.
- AI Writing Takes Over: A new study from Stanford and Emory reveals just how much AI-generated text is creeping into consumer complaints, corporate press releases, job postings, and even UN statements.
- AI in the Wild Debut: A new segment highlighting creative uses of AI in education, starting with a PhD student who trained ChatGPT to simulate her dissertation committee.
Beneath the Surface:
- Turnitin’s Pivot to AI Writing Assistance: The academic integrity giant shifts gears with a new tool, Turnitin Clarity, offering an AI-powered writing environment where students can work transparently with AI while teachers monitor their usage. Will this build trust in classrooms or create new challenges?
Bright Byte:
OpenAI’s $50 Million Investment in AI Research: OpenAI launches a research consortium with 15 top universities, funding AI projects in healthcare, education, and digital humanities.
Join us as we discuss what this all means for the future of AI in education!
Episode Sponsor: This episode of ChatEDU is sponsored by the National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing. Learn more about their AI and workforce development initiatives at https://www.nextgenmfg.org.
Links Referenced in This Episode:
Forbes News Blast Prompt:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jodiecook/2025/03/05/the-chatgpt-prompt-that-reveals-your-hidden-talent-in-seconds/
Business Insider article on humanities degrees and AI:
https://www.businessinsider.com/notebooklm-editorial-director-google-labs-said-humanities-skills-valuable-ai-2025-2
Stanford & Emory Study on AI Writing:
https://arxiv.org/pdf/2502.09747
Nature article on ChatGPT for students:
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00621-2#:~:text=Unlike%20the%20'early%20days'%20of,professors%20and%20even%20personal%20trainers.
OpenAI’s Next Gen AI Research Consortium:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaeltnietzel/2025/03/05/openai-will-invest-50-million-in-a-new-university-research-consortium/
Announcements: The Spring AI in Education Micro-credential is now full. Just the list to get notified about our summer cohort at https://www.skills21.org/ai/micro
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