The use of artificial intelligence by students: a booming practice in Swiss universities

More and more Swiss students are using artificial intelligence to write their academic papers. At the University of Geneva, librarians recently discovered several significant errors linked to the misuse of these digital tools. Faced with this growing phenomenon, Swiss universities are now seeking to supervise and support their students.

AI and Bitcoin

Revealing errors at the University of Geneva

It all started with a simple bibliography check at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Geneva (UNIGE). Tasked with verifying the quality of cited sources, the librarians quickly noticed anomalies. Some references were unavailable, others led to incorrect articles, and several simply did not exist.

«"Some references were unsearchable, others pointed to the wrong article, and there were even non-existent sources," explains Igor Milhit, a medical librarian at the University Medical Center (CMU).

Policy on AI at the University of Geneva

In a quarter of the analyzed works, the use of artificial intelligence was confirmed. The most serious errors concerned invented or obsolete quotations, sometimes from works printed in the 15th century—completely inappropriate for modern medical work.

«"I was very surprised that we could submit work with non-existent information. This raises real questions about the quality of scientific production, especially when these students become researchers themselves," emphasizes Igor Milhit.

A widespread and difficult to detect practice

According to a 2024 study, 56% students at the University of Geneva have already used a generative AI tool as part of their studies. Among them, 16% report using it for half or more of their academic work.

For teachers, the changes have not gone unnoticed. The productions are better written, more fluid, and error-free, but they present a worrying homogeneity.

«"For two years, the work has been cleaner, but also more uniform," observes Nadia Elia, professor at the Faculty of Medicine.

The uses are varied: some students use AI to translate, rephrase, or clarify a text, while others use it to directly generate entire paragraphs.

Stricter supervision in Swiss universities

Aware of both the potential and the potential pitfalls of these technologies, Swiss universities have decided to take action. They now offer training courses, practical guides, and explanatory videos to teach people how to use AI ethically and responsibly.

But the rules are clear: any use of artificial intelligence must be explicitly mentioned in the submitted work. If omitted, the risk is high: the document could be considered plagiarism, punishable by sanctions that can include exclusion.

In summary

• More than one in two students already uses AI for their work.
• The University of Geneva has detected entirely fabricated bibliographies.
• Universities are now regulating the use of AI to prevent plagiarism.
• Mentioning the use of AI is becoming an academic obligation.