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Office of IDEAS

Turnitin AI Writing Detection Pilot

Fresno State will pilot Turnitin’s AI Writing Detection feature, funded through the Chancellor’s Office, during the Summer and Fall 2025 semesters. It will be enabled on Monday, June 16 through Turnitin in Canvas Assignments. The feature attempts to identify writing that may have been generated by AI tools, such as ChatGPT. The analysis is visible to instructors only and is intended to inform and support academic integrity conversations. Students will be notified of the pilot through a Canvas Announcement. 

This pilot is part of our ongoing effort to understand the impact of generative AI on academic work and how we can best support academic integrity in this evolving landscape. We strongly encourage you to include an AI policy in your syllabus and inform your students.

View Sample AI Policy Syllabus Statements

 

Questions & Answers

Turnitin’s AI Detection tool analyzes submitted text and flags portions it predicts may have been generated by AI, such as ChatGPT. It produces a score and highlights specific passages, helping instructors identify possible use of generative AI in writing.

During the pilot phase, AI Detection is enabled by default for all courses using Turnitin. However, faculty are not required to act on the reports and are encouraged to use them as one piece of contextual information.

No. The AI Detection results are only visible to instructors and administrators. Students do not have access to the AI score or report unless their instructor shares it.

Use the report as a starting point, not a conclusion. Review the flagged content in context and consider the student’s voice, prior work, and the assignment; discuss the findings with the student before making assumptions. A high score indicates the system suspects a large portion of the text may be AI-generated, but it is not proof of misconduct. False positives are possible. Use the report alongside your judgment and talk with the student to better understand their process.

Yes. Beyond flagging potential AI use, the tool can prompt valuable conversations with students about authorship, writing processes, and ethical AI use. It may also inform assignment design to reduce the likelihood of AI misuse.

No. Turnitin’s tool cannot identify which AI tool was used. It detects patterns typical of AI-generated writing, but not the specific source (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini).

Turnitin has recently expanded its AI writing detection capabilities to include Spanish and Japanese text, in addition to English.

Reactions will vary. Some students may see it as a reasonable step to uphold academic integrity. Others may feel mistrusted or anxious, especially if they’re unclear about what’s considered acceptable AI use.

To foster trust:

  • Be transparent: Let students know that Turnitin’s AI Detection tool is being used, and explain why.
  • Focus on learning: Emphasize that the goal isn’t to “catch” students, but to support authentic learning and ethical writing practices.
  • Encourage dialogue: Create space for students to ask questions and reflect on the role of AI in their writing process.
  • Clarify expectations: Clearly define what types of AI use are permitted or not in your course.

Resources from Turnitin