Can Blackboard SafeAssign Detect AI Generated Content?

I am sure you find this very straightforward, as you must be here with the very concern that you've either already used, are thinking, or are only curious about what your school can actually detect regarding AI in assignments, honesty still being the crucial aspect to consider in all these cases.

The long story short is that no, SafeAssign cannot recognize AI-written material directly. However, before you take that long-awaited sigh of relief, there are still many things to this story that you absolutely are required to comprehend.

What Is SafeAssign and How Does It Work?

SafeAssign is the plagiarism detection tool provided by Blackboard, and it has been in place for years, way before ChatGPT became famous and widely used. You may view it as a huge comparison engine that just opposes your submission with billions of published documents.

Here you’ll understand : 

• SafeAssign is actually comparing your work to the following:

• Various databases of academic papers and journals

• Websites and content available in the public domain on the internet

• Past submissions of students from your institution

• Material from ProQuest's ABI/Inform database

Submitting a paper via SafeAssign results in the generation of an "originality report." In this report, the text that corresponds with the already existing sources is highlighted, and a percentage score is assigned to the whole paper. Thus, a 15% match can be considered a proper citation of the sources, whereas an 80% match can signal a major problem with plagiarism.

However, the major difference is that SafeAssign is searching for identical text, not AI-generated text. It verifies existing words if they are found in another source. As AI produces original mixtures of words using patterns instead of straightforwardly rephrasing existing text, SafeAssign usually does not mark AI-generated writing as cheating.

Does SafeAssign Detect AI Writing?

The response is no, SafeAssign is not capable of identifying AI-generated text. I want to be very clear about this since there is considerable misunderstanding on the topic. SafeAssign was created to detect plagiarism, which means it would identify the content that has been taken from existing sources.

Thus, if you pass AI-created content through SafeAssign, it is very likely that you will get back an extremely low similarity score because that specific text is not present in SafeAssign's database. However, this does not mean that you are safe. 

What About Blackboard's AI Detection Features?

This is the point where it all becomes really exciting. SafeAssign, while being the case, has not yet added AI detection. However, Blackboard is only integrating actual AI detection capabilities into its platform.

During 2023 and 2024, the company made several announcements regarding partnerships, along with the introduction of features that were created to specifically deal with AI-generated content. They have also experimented with the idea of using third-party AI detection tools and, at the same time, come up with their own indicators. The only catch here is that the implementation is quite different from one institution to another.

While some colleges and universities have incorporated AI detection functionalities into their Blackboard systems, other institutions have not. Your institution may be using one of the following:

• Turnitin AI detection features, if they have switched or integrated it

• Separate AI detectors that are being run by the professors

• Blackboard's own developing AI detection features

• No AI detection at all; just using the standard SafeAssign

The situation is that there is no common answer, as every institution has its own way of setting up Blackboard depending on its licenses, policies, and concerns.

How Do AI Detectors Actually Work?

Now I want to understand how AI detectors function and understand their limitations. AI detection can understand patterns in unique writing that converts machine-generated rather than human-authored.

Using such a method, you can see : 

Perplexity: This metric evaluates the predictability of your text. AI usually selects the more frequent and anticipated word patterns, whereas humans are inherently more unpredictable and diverse in their selection.

Burstiness: Human writing styles are very different, including sentence lengths and complexity. There are sometimes short, punchy sentences followed by longer, more complex ones. On the other hand, AI usually keeps the same structure in the sentences throughout the text.

Vocabulary consistency: AI frequently utilizes an almost unvarying degree of vocabulary refinement that raises suspicions, whereas human writing, on the other hand, is likely to change according to the subject, the writer's mood, or the intricacy of the ideas being expressed.

Lack of personal voice: It is indeed the most difficult aspect to measure, but seasoned readers can detect when the text does not have the genuine voice, personal experiences, or unique viewpoints that are typical of human authorship.

However, the uncomfortable reality is that AI detectors are not perfect by any means. False positives (labeling human writing as AI) and false negatives (not detecting genuine AI content) are generated by them quite often.

Can Professors Tell If You Used AI Without Detection Tools?

To be clearer, a lot of people can do that, especially if they are familiar with your writing style.

Professors go through hundreds, if not thousands,of students' papers in their lifetime. They get that sense of feeling for the original student writing versus something that is not so authentic. If you have only done three not-so-good essays all semester and then hand in a perfectly polished, sophisticated analysis, that will definitely raise some eyebrows.

Some signs that professors might notice include:

• The quality of writing has suddenly improved dramatically

• Responses that are generic and do not show any specific engagement with the course materials

• Writing that on the surface sounds impressive, but actually conveys very little

• The absence of the small, human imperfections that typically mark genuine student work

Inability to produce technically correct writing while simultaneously failing to follow specific set instructions

More than one teacher has told me that they can usually tell within the first paragraph or two whether a piece of writing is AI-generated or not. The reason for this is not any technical analysis, but rather the fact that the voice simply doesn't match their perception of the student.

What Happens If Your School Uses Both SafeAssign and AI Detection?

A few institutions are choosing to use a double-barreled strategy, one side being SafeAssign plagiarism check and the other side being a separate AI-generation detection tool. In this scenario, your work undergoes two rounds of examination.

To begin with, SafeAssign performs a plagiarism search from all the available sources. After that, a different AI detection system conducts its analysis of the content for signs of machine production. 

In case the AI detector tags your work, then it is the submission destiny that will be determined by the academic integrity policy of that particular institution. Some schools consider AI usage equivalent to plagiarism, while others have more sophisticated policies that recognize different types and levels of AI assistance.

How to Use AI Responsibly for Academic Work

Honestly, I am not going to give you a sermon, but I do wish to discuss the reality of AI in academic settings. These gadgets will remain, and acting as if they are not around is useless for all.

The main thing is to realize the contrast between deploying AI as a learning aid and deploying it as a shortcut that weakens your education. Some truly moral methods of blending AI with your academic work are the following:

• Idea generation and structuring: AI can support the generation of topics or be used to create the first outline. It's practically going through the ideas with a study group.

• Grasping difficult notions: Request AI to provide a simpler explanation of the complex topics. It can be equated to attending the office hours or getting help from a tutor.

• Revising and checking for errors: AI can be utilized to find grammar mistakes or to make suggestions for the improvement of your already-written work. This is similar to using Grammarly or going to the writing center.

• Help with research: AI can tell you words to use in your search, and you can also ask for an explanation of the background of the topic you are researching. This will enable you to become a more skilled researcher.

The most significant inquiry to put forward to yourself: "Is this a learning process for me, or am I just in a hurry to get it done?" If the answer is the latter, you are actually cheating yourself, not someone else.

What If Your Content Gets Flagged?

If the AI detector flags your work, there is no need to panic. It is important to know that the detection tools have a chance of making mistakes.

Here are the steps to take:

Keep yourself calm and professional: Defensive or emotional responses are not likely to benefit your case. Treat the matter in a grown-up way.

Get to the bottom of the accusation: Request to know specifically what proof points out the AI use. Is it just the AI detector score that raises the concern, or are there other issues too?

Collect your proofs: If you really authored the work, you might have drafts, research notes, outlines, or other materials that reveal your process. These could serve as a witness to the real authorship and be very powerful evidence.

Ask for details: Inquire which parts are put into question and the reasons. Sometimes it is easier to address particular issues than to defend a whole paper.

Be aware of your rights: Go through your institution's academic integrity procedures. Generally, you have the right to appeal and present your case.

The Future of AI Detection in Education

The landscape is changing at a fast pace. Detection technology is getting better, but so is the technology for AI generation as well. Essentially, it is an arms race with no clear winner for now.

What appears to be the only certain thing is the gradual move of education from the efforts to police the use of AI towards a complete rethinking of assessment. More oral exams, in-class writing, project-based assessments, and assignments that specifically require personal experience or reflection have already started to take place instead of the use of AI, which can't be copied.

The dialogue is shifting from "How can we prevent students from using AI?" to "How can we equip students to be effective in an AI-enabled world?" That could be the best approach for all.

Tips for Students Navigating This Landscape

Here is my practical advice for managing this complicated situation:

Be aware of your school's policy: Every establishment has distinct regulations concerning AI. First, familiarize yourself with your academic honesty policy and any specific course instructions.

When in doubt, and reveal it: In case you used AI in some way but are still undecided whether it is allowed, it is usually safer to reveal how you used it. Openness is really appreciated.

Develop your genuine voice: The strongest defense against AI detection worries is writing that is truly yours. Talk from your own life experiences, interact directly with your course materials, and let your exceptional point of view come out.

Keep your proof: Make a habit of keeping drafts, notes, and research materials. This documentation can be very helpful in case your work’s authenticity is questioned.

Concentrate on learning: Always remember that the intention behind assignments is not only to complete them but also to acquire the abilities and knowledge that are essential after college. Relying on AI now can be detrimental to your future.

Conclusion

On one hand, the educational institutions are trying very hard to catch up with the technological advancements that have taken place so fast that there were no policies to cover those developments. Students do not know what is going on. Professors are having a hard time now, and sometimes wrongly so, estimating the situation.

 Likely, it is time to look into the factors causing such a high student dropout rate, such as ongoing workload pressure, poor teaching methods, and the assessment design, which are not based on the students’ daily demands, rather than adding more monitoring technology.

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