Sydney academic used AI to write SMH opinion piece urging students to avoid using tech to ‘cut corners’

Sydney Morning Herald removes piece by Cath Ellis, despite Western Sydney University saying her use of AI was ‘appropriate’ Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast A top Sydney academic used AI to write an opinion piece that urged students to “do the work” and not cut corners by using such technology, with the Sydney Morning Herald removing the “unacceptable” piece from its website. Western Sydney University’s pro vice-chancellor for quality and integrity, Prof Cath Ellis, had an opinion piece published in the Sydney Morning Herald last month, in response to an article from the academic Kylie Moore-Gilbert. Moore-Gilbert had written that she had advised her stepdaughter to think twice before enrolling in university as students could easily outsource their learning to AI, saying students were “being graded on who can write the best AI prompts”. In response, Ellis wrote in her piece that the “AI problem is real”, but students should still go to university and study properly. “Don’t cut corners. Don’t outsource your thinking, however tempting that may be. If the system is as fragile

Jun 3, 2026 → Jun 8, 2026