Chinese AI Companies Suspend Chatbot Features to Prevent Exam Cheating

Chinese AI companies have temporarily paused some of their chatbot features to prevent students from using them to cheat during nationwide college exams, Bloomberg reports. Popular AI applications, including Alibaba’s Qwen and ByteDance’s Doubao, have stopped picture recognition features from responding to questions about test papers. Additionally, Tencent’s Yuanbao and Moonshot’s Kimi have suspended photo-recognition services entirely during exam hours.

The increasing availability of chatbots has made it easier than ever for students around the world to cheat their way through education. In response, schools in the United States are attempting to address the issue by reintroducing paper tests. Reports indicate that sales of blue books have surged in universities across the country over the last two years Wall Street Journal reporting in May.

The rigorous multi-day “gaokao” exams are taken by more than 13.3 million Chinese students between June 7-10, with each student vying for one of the limited spots at universities across the country. Students are already prohibited from using devices such as phones and laptops during the hours-long tests, so the disabling of AI chatbots serves as an additional safety net to prevent cheating during this critical exam season.

When asked to explain the suspension, Bloomberg reports that the Yuanbao and Kimi chatbots stated that functions had been disabled “to ensure the fairness of the college entrance examinations.” Similarly, the DeepSeek AI tool, which gained popularity earlier this year, is also blocking its service during specific hours “to ensure fairness in the college entrance examination” according to The Guardian.

Despite the significant measures taken, public announcements from the AI companies regarding these suspensions have not been found. The Guardian reports that news surrounding the shutdowns is primarily being driven by students on the Chinese social media platform Weibo. The gaokao entrance exam incites fierce competition, as it is the sole means to secure a college placement in China, raising concerns that students may resort to using AI tools to enhance their chances.

The decision to suspend these features highlights the ongoing struggle between technological advancements and academic integrity. As AI tools become more sophisticated, educational institutions are faced with the challenge of maintaining fairness in assessments while also embracing innovation.

In recent years, the rise of AI technology has prompted discussions about its implications in various sectors, including education. While these tools can provide valuable assistance in learning, their potential for misuse during critical examinations poses a significant threat to the integrity of academic evaluations.

As the gaokao approaches, the measures taken by AI companies reflect a broader trend of vigilance within the educational landscape. Stakeholders are increasingly aware of the need to balance technological innovation with ethical considerations, particularly in high-stakes environments like college entrance exams.

In conclusion, the temporary suspension of chatbot features by Chinese AI companies underscores the importance of maintaining fairness in educational assessments. As students prepare for the gaokao, the actions taken by these companies serve as a reminder of the ongoing efforts to uphold academic integrity in the face of evolving technology.