ANU accused of ‘hysterical’ response to students using AI to cheat as unis scramble to ‘secure’ assessments

Australia risks ‘shipping’ intellectual capability overseas if educational rigour not restored, experts warn Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast An academic at the Australian National University has accused it of a “hysterical” response to students using AI to cheat, as tertiary institutions rush to shore up the credibility of assessments. But a colleague warned Australia is in danger of “shipping our national intellectual capability” to companies in California and China if educational rigour is not restored. The Canberra institution is among the universities trying to counter the widespread use of AI amid concerns students are using the technology to cheat, or not adequately learning. The 2025 Australian Digital Inclusion Index found 78.9% of secondary and tertiary students were using generative AI. ANU has released a consultation paper to academic and teaching staff with three options, including classifying assessments as “secure” – completely free from the risk of AI cheating – or “insecure”. Another option would require students to declare in which stages of an assessment AI w

Jul 18, 2026 → Jul 18, 2026