Can Canvas Detect ChatGPT?

The introduction of AI into education has had a transformative impact. AI technology has helped both learners and educators, and students can now use AI tools to research topics and get extra clarification on topics they may find difficult.

One of the leading AI tools in use is OpenAI's ChatGPT. It has been the number one go-to tool for students seeking help with research, writing essays, and learning new topics. However, this has also come with its share of negatives. At the top of this list of negatives is students passing off AI-generated content as their own.

This then raises the biggest question: Can LMSs like Canvas detect ChatGPT?

Canvas Under the Hood

Canvas is used globally by schools and teachers to manage lessons, facilitate communication, and assess performance. Under the hood is a suite of tools built to help teachers create learning materials, grade assignments, and track student progress.

However, Canvas lacks built-in AI detection features. It uses third-party tools like Copyscape and Turnitin to detect plagiarism and ensure academic integrity. These tools aren't built to detect AI—instead, they cross-check assignments against a wide database of academic papers and websites, checking for direct plagiarism.

More Challenges with AI Content

AI tools are now being trained to write more human-like articles. AI humanizer tools can edit AI-generated articles and essays to make them appear more natural and human-like.

Students can use these humanizer tools alongside a little editing to bypass Canvas plagiarism and AI detection. You can click here for more info on using AI humanizer tools to make your articles natural and pass AI detector checks.

Detecting AI Content

Identifying AI content is different from checking for plagiarism. ChatGPT and other AI tools generate text without directly copying from a single source of information. Some articles written using AI tools can pass plagiarism checks with a 100% score.

However, where ChatGPT and many other AI tools still struggle is in making content appear human. It is still a work in progress with developers creating learning models to help AI tools like ChatGPT write text that is more humanized with fewer repetitions or an overly formal tone.

Still on the same topic, OpenAI, the creators of ChatGPT, and other independent developers are now working on building AI detection tools. Those already on the market are doing an excellent job in detecting AI-generated content, going as far as highlighting unique parts in essays or articles that appear copied from AI tools.

The Role of Educators

The question of whether Canvas can detect AI content does not have an outright yes or no answer. Passing off work written using ChatGPT as your own is considered academic dishonesty. It undermines the process of learning and devalues the effort teachers put into creating learning resources and teaching.

Teachers can easily tell if the content is AI-generated through their experience and knowledge about the student's capacities. However, educators still have a role to play in how students use AI. Rather than castigating the use of AI tools, they can encourage their students to use them effectively for research.