A PhD student at the University of Hong Kong has triggered an academic misconduct investigation for using AI tools to write their academic thesis. The investigation revealed that out of 61 references cited in the thesis, 24 were fabricated by AI and do not actually exist. This incident has sparked ethical discussions in academia about the use of AI tools for writing assistance. Notably, the student’s supervisor has also been implicated and has been dismissed from their position. Experts caution that when using AI tools to assist with academic writing, all generated content must be carefully verified, especially the accuracy of references, to avoid similar academic misconduct incidents. This case also reflects the challenges facing academic oversight systems in the AI era and the need for educators to be more cautious when guiding students.
