Veteran economics professor claims he can easily spot AI-written student work

In a recent interview, Steve Hanke, an applied economics professor at Johns Hopkins University with almost 60 years of teaching experience, asserted that he can effortlessly differentiate between genuine student essays and those created by AI chatbots such as ChatGPT. He attributes this ease to what he describes as the generally weak writing skills of many students, even at top-tier schools, which makes AI-generated text stand out.

Hanke also relies on his intimate knowledge of each student's grasp of economics to spot work that does not align with their capabilities. Former dean of admissions Drusilla Blackman echoed his sentiment, saying educators typically notice when a paper's quality does not match a student's usual output. Both experts warn that AI requires teachers to be more alert than before. To counter the trend, several faculty members have begun crafting assignments that resist AI assistance, including a shift back to handwritten submissions.