Coursera introduces AI-powered tools to boost exam integrity and curb cheating

Coursera, a leading online learning platform, has introduced a suite of new AI-based tools to enhance the integrity of online examinations and prevent academic dishonesty.


Among these innovations, the AI-based WIWA tool stands out as a key feature designed to ensure the authenticity of student submissions. Traditionally, professors evaluated students' assignments, but with WIWA, the process begins with an AI-driven integrity check. This system analyses the students' work to discern whether they have resorted to generative AI to complete their assignments, raise flags, and provide recommendations to evaluators if potential misconduct is detected.

Speaking to CNBC-TV18, CEO Jeff Maggioncalda elaborated on the comprehensive measures Coursera is implementing to curb cheating and maintain academic standards. These measures include simple yet effective features like ID verification, which ensures that the test taker is the actual student by matching their ID with their face using a camera. Another notable feature is graded item locking, a straightforward tool that prevents students from skipping instructional videos before taking tests, thus ensuring they engage with the learning material.

The AI-driven proctoring system represents a significant advancement in exam security. By monitoring the testing environment, the system flags any suspicious activity for review by professors, a process known as 'human in the loop.' This method ensures that educators make final judgments on potential cheating incidents, highlighting their crucial role in maintaining academic integrity.

Additional features include browser lockdown, which restricts access to other windows during an assessment, and advanced plagiarism detection, which cross-references submissions against a vast content database to identify potential copying.

Watch the accompanying video for the entire conversation.