With the rise of artificial intelligence, an LSU student organization is focused on making sure AI integration is handled properly.
Student Alliance for AI Reform is dedicated to teaching students about the use of AI on college campuses. It plans to work with LSU Student Government on implementing rules and guidelines for AI use.
SAFAR was founded last semester by current club President Jude Terrell and Vice President Aaron Lomastro.
“We wanted to start the organization so that students can lead the way and have their voices heard and help shape what education looks like,” Terrell said.
An issue the club wants to address is false AI use accusations throughout the school. According to Terrell, AI detection sites like Turnitin falsely flag work as AI around 1% to 5% of the time.
“That doesn’t seem like a lot, but when you take every student at LSU submitting tens of assignments, then there’s like 30,000 kids,” Terrell said. “There’s gonna be all of these false cases going through.”
SAFAR has started a program to help those who have been falsely accused. The organization offers a form on its website for students who believe they have been wrongly accused of using AI. The club helps these students draft defense plans for their cases.
SAFAR is working with SG to get changes made on the administrative level to reduce the total number of false AI misuse accusations.
Since AI technology is so new, rules and regulations regarding its use are scarce. This makes it difficult for professors and students to navigate proper AI usage.
The topic of AI has become very polarizing within the past few years. SAFAR aims to help students understand the nuances of the conversation, as many see the discussion as black and white.
SAFAR hopes to find a happy medium, in which AI can be used as a tool in academia, rather than a replacement for effort.
“If it’s just enhancing your work, that’s good,” Terrell said. “But if it’s replacing your ideas, replacing your thought process, I think that’s bad.”
Terrell argued that once someone is detached from their work to the point of not understanding it themselves, they have strayed into the realm of academic dishonesty.
“If it’s not your own ideas, I think that’s kind of the point where it becomes irresponsible and it becomes not your own work,” Terrell explained.
SAFAR also works with other organizations to spread information. Recently, it partnered with Geaux Green LSU in order to give a talk about the impact AI usage has on the environment.
Terrell said the club intends to hold a debate sometime in April. The event will be open t the public, with people being able to come in and share their thoughts on AI while discussing a few hot button topics.
“I think people are gonna come away from that debate not only having fun but also having a lot more knowledge on these issues that are gonna be important to them,” Terrell said.
