Generative AI tools like ChatGPT are changing the world—fast! But with great power comes great responsibility. These tools can widen inequalities, spread disinformation, and create risks we’re just starting to understand.
At CSRAI, we’re on a mission to investigate these issues through a series of exciting hackathons. Our Bias-a-thon revealed AI’s hidden stereotypes, our Fake-a-thon highlighted challenges in detecting AI-generated lies, and our Diagnose-a-thon put AI’s medical diagnostic skills to the test. Now, we’re turning our attention to understanding how large language models can impact higher education with the Cheat-a-thon!
Check out the information below to see how you can take on the challenge and compete for $10,000 in cash prizes! The Cheat-a-thon challenges university faculty to create questions that are difficult for generative AI to answer. It also challenges students to use generative AI to answer them.
At a high level, the Cheat-a-thon explores the benefits and pitfalls of using generative AI in academic environments. What challenges do generative AI tools pose for faculty? How can they adapt exams, assignments, and other materials to ensure that students don’t over rely on generative AI to complete them? How successful would a student in one program be at using generative AI to complete work in a completely different program?
The event requires university faculty and students to take on different challenges. Faculty are tasked with creating questions that are difficult for generative AI to answer. And students are tasked with using generative AI to answer these questions.
The challenge is split into two virtual stages, with prizes awarded to top scoring participants. Through the competition entries, we hope that participants can see both the potential benefits and risks of using generative AI in academia.
The Cheat-a-thon will be held in two separate stages:
- Stage 1 (Faculty only) will be held March 3-23
- Stage 2 (Students only) will be held March 31-April 6
The challenge will be held virtually, with all questions and answers submitted via a Qualtrics survey.
The challenge is open to all faculty and students who are at least 18 years old and who have a valid .edu email address from a college or university based in the United States.
Follow the steps below to submit an entry into either stage 1 (open to faculty) or stage 2 (open to students) of the challenge. Participants can submit as many entries as desired to the appropriate stage. Participation in the Cheat-a-thon is voluntary and can be ended at any time.
Stage 1 (University Faculty): March 3-23
Using the stage 1 submission form, submit a single question from an exam, project, or assignment that you believe would be difficult for students to answer using generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini.
Submissions must also include:
- an ideal answer that would receive full points if submitted by a student
- a description, if necessary, of how the question was tweaked to make it more difficult for generative AI to answer
Questions can come from any subject at the undergraduate or graduate level.
Stage 2 (University Students): March 31-April 6
Select a question submitted by faculty in stage 1 and use generative AI to attempt to answer it. Submit your answer by uploading a PDF to the stage 2 submission form that includes screenshots of your prompts and the large language model’s response. Also, you must include the name and version of the generative AI tool used in your prompt.
You can submit as many answers as you’d like, but you may only submit one answer per question. You must rely entirely on generative AI to find an original solution. You may not use other tools like online libraries, search engines, or Wikipedia.
Post-event Survey
Once the challenge concludes, participants will be asked to complete a brief survey about their experience. This feedback is essential to help us advance knowledge about prompting generative AI and improving future events.
Faculty
Five $1,000 prizes will be awarded to faculty who submitted questions in stage 1 that proved to be the most difficult for students to answer in stage 2. Question difficulty will be assessed by the lowest average grade received by students.
Students
Student answers will be compared to the answers provided by faculty and graded on correctness and creativity. Winners will be determined by the total number of correct answers they provide. For example, a student answering 15 questions correctly will score higher than a student answering ten questions correctly.
Ten students who receive the highest cumulative grades for their AI-generated answers will win cash prizes:
- 1st place = $1,000 (two winners)
- 2nd place = $750 (two winners)
- 3rd place = $500 (one winner)
- Consolation = $200 (five winners)
Your involvement enables you to be a part of a growing movement led by CSRAI that champions socially responsible AI. Through this challenge and engagement with CSRAI, you can collaborate with Penn State's brightest minds in AI and ethics, while also shedding light on the emergent strengths and worrisome shortcomings of existing AI tools, the opportunities they provide, and the challenges they can create. Ultimately, you will help pave the way for an AI future that is helpful rather than harmful to society.
If you have questions or concerns about the research, please email Bonam Mingole at bjm6940@psu.edu. You can also join the Cheat-a-thon Microsoft Teams channel to ask questions during the event.
If you have questions regarding your rights as a research subject or concerns about your privacy, please contact the Human Research Protection Program at (814) 865-1775.
Participation is voluntary and can be ended at any time.