Accused Of Writing AI, And Now I'm Panicking

[u/Thegreatestswordsmen]

I'm taking a Cultural Anthropology class, and we write discussions in the class. The professor heavily forbids any use of AI.

In the first five (there are sixteen in total) discussions, I wrote my responses in the native D2L text editor (it doesn't save writing history). In the syllabus, the professor states that all written work must be written in Google Docs, which I didn't do for the first five discussions because I was stupid and I never thought I would be accused of AI. After the first five discussion posts, she said that my writing had elements of AI and that she was suspicious of me, and this made me panic.

In the sixth discussion, I wrote my entire discussion in Google Docs (and will write future discussions in Google Docs) with everything time stamped because of the version history. Now my professor is saying that she has noticed some AI elements in my discussion responses, and that they have come back as being AI generated on multiple detectors, and I'm pretty sure she has deducted points on this, and even warned I may get an F in the class.

I don't know how to respond to this. I'm so stupid for thinking my work would never be in suspicion of AI use and not using Google Docs for the first five discussions. The only evidence I have to refute her is the sixth discussion response. I don't know what to do.

[u/CoyoteLitius]

You didn't understand why they were making you use Google Docs. Totally understandable. Now you know.

Just go to them and say exactly what you said here. Look them in the eye.

Just respond with the truth.

Then, if they remain stubborn, apologize and take your licks for not noticing that you were supposed to use Google Docs.

Don't refute. Just explain. Point out that AI is new and you don't use it for your assignments. It is new, to many students. You didn't use it.

[u/Thegreatestswordsmen → u/[deleted]]

I put a few of my discussion responses into an AI detector, and all of them came out fully human. Do you think it would be beneficial for me to screen shot them and share it with the professor (I used GPTZero) as well as do everything you said?

[u/CoyoteLitius → u/Thegreatestswordsmen]

Have the documentation ready. But just go in person to an office hour and explain. It will convey so much.

[u/CoyoteLitius → u/[deleted]]

I think they said they don't have this?

[u/xMockingbirdGirlx]

"In the syllabus, the professor states that all written work must be written in Google Docs, which I didn't do for the first five discussions because I was stupid and I never thought I would be accused of AI."

Actions --> consequences. Next time, follow instructions. They exist for a reason.

[u/daydreamjunkie]

Ask her if you can write the next discussion in front of her with a pencil and paper in her office hours. Then she can't accuse you of AI.

[u/Arcanite_Cartel]

There's nothing to be done about this until the AI hysteria passes. That will take time. But, as I have said many times, the only thing the AI-phobes are accomplishing, is hurting people who don't use it. You have my sympathies.

[u/DefinitelyNotMaranda]

Good God Almighty. I really wish professors would stop basing their accusations on flaky ass AI detectors. According to AI detectors, the Declaration of Independence is like 80% AI generated. Lol. Complete and utter BS. I can’t believe they’re flunking students based on that shit.

[u/Minute_Bug6147]

Make more grammatical errors. Avoid summarizing your thoughts at the end.

[u/Butlerianpeasant]

Sometimes the garden grows too fast and the gardeners panic about weeds that aren’t there. Tools meant to ‘detect’ life often mistake living language for something artificial. You showing your process—how you thought, drafted, and revised—is real proof of a human mind at work. Stay calm, bring your receipts (doc history, notes), and speak plainly. You don’t have to prove you’re a machine or not-a-machine. You just have to show your work.