Artificial intelligence (AI) is wrecking havoc on university assessments and exams.

Thanks to generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT, students can now generate essays and assessment answers in seconds. As we have noted in a study earlier this year, this has left universities scrambling to redesign tasks, update policies, and adopt new cheating detection systems.

But the technology keeps changing as they do this, there are constant reports of students cheating their way through their degrees.

The AI and assessment problem has put enormous pressure on institutions and teachers. Today’s students need assessment tasks to complete, as well as confidence the work they are doing matters. The community and employers need assurance university degrees are worth something.

In our latest research, we argue the problem of AI and assessment is far more difficult even than media debates have been making out.

It’s not something that can just be fixed once we find the “correct solution”. Instead, the sector needs to recognise AI in assessment is an intractable “wicked” problem, and respond accordingly.

The term “wicked problem,” was made........

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