Plagiarism – Reimagining Authorship & Citation Practices in The Digital Age
This article delves into the world of plagiarism conventions, particularly focusing on U.S. Copyright and intellectual property law, and how they may fall short in addressing the evolving landscape of writing with AI technology. Traditionally, unauthorized use or appropriation of someone else's work without proper attribution has been a serious violation in academic, ethical, and legal realms.
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In academic settings, plagiarism, especially when done intentionally, can have severe consequences such as failing grades or even expulsion. Similarly, in professional environments, plagiarism can lead to termination and legal repercussions. However, with the advent of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) tools, the traditional notions of plagiarism, authorship, copyright, and attribution are being challenged.
The Impact of AI on Plagiarism
When writers engage with AI tools to compose their work, questions arise regarding what constitutes plagiarism. Is it considered plagiarism when writers collaborate with AI tools on a sentence-by-sentence or paragraph basis? The lines between original authorship and AI assistance blur as writers rely on tools like Semantic Scholar, Undermind, or Consensus to summarize, critique, and analyze research and scholarship.
Writers harness a variety of AI tools such as ChatPDF, LitMaps, ResearchRabbit, and Perplexity to streamline their writing process, visualize citation relationships, and generate content. The integration of AI in the writing process challenges traditional citation guidelines like MLA and APA, signaling a paradigm shift in the field of writing studies.
The Ethical Debate
While some educators view any use of AI tools as unethical and tantamount to plagiarism, others encourage students to leverage AI for rhetorical and composing processes. This dichotomy has created a divide in academic circles, with some journals even prohibiting articles that heavily rely on AI-generated content.
Teachers find themselves transitioning from mentors to supervisors of AI-authored works, while plagiarism detection tools struggle to differentiate between original and AI-assisted writing. The surge in AI-generated texts has presented challenges for publishers and educational institutions alike, prompting a reevaluation of academic integrity and citation practices.
In conclusion, the evolving landscape of writing with AI necessitates a reexamination of traditional authorship and citation norms to adapt to the digital age.
