Suspicions of AI Use in Pupil Education Competitions in Latvia
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Loading... - Conrad Cuma
- 31 Mar 2025
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Concerns regarding the use of artificial intelligence in regional-level Olympiads have emerged in Latvia, with the State Education Development Agency (VIAA) raising suspicions about the integrity of the competition. A year ago, VIAA first noted potential issues, but this year, there are reasonable grounds to suspect that 36 participants may not have completed their tasks independently.
Maija Butlere-Bērziņa, Head of the VIAA Division for the Promotion of Excellence in Education, explained that there are indications that some students may have used unauthorized aids to answer questions. She noted that the authors of the Olympiad tasks are highly experienced, and similar suspicions were raised during the previous Olympiad season.
While officials have not disclosed the specific Olympiad in question, they have indicated that students whose results have been annulled retain the right to challenge the decision. This revelation came to light earlier this week.
In contrast to regional-level Olympiads, where the risk of malpractice is heightened—especially as many are conducted remotely—national-level Olympiads are held in a centralized location in Rīga, minimizing such risks. The organizers of the Olympiads acknowledge the need to address these challenges as technology evolves. This year, they implemented new measures to detect potential malpractice, which led to the annulment of results for the 36 participants based on carefully assessed evidence.
To combat the issue, the jury incorporated specific tasks designed to gauge a pupil's honesty. Butlere-Bērziņa explained that if a student's answer is overly detailed or appears absurd, it may indicate reliance on external tools rather than independent thought. This proactive approach aims to uphold the integrity of the competitions and ensure that students are genuinely demonstrating their knowledge and skills.
As the landscape of education continues to evolve with technological advancements, the need for vigilance in maintaining academic integrity becomes increasingly critical.
