Brown Professor's In-Person Final Exposes AI Cheating as Average Score Falls to 48.6%
Updated
Updated · USA TODAY · Jul 20
Brown Professor's In-Person Final Exposes AI Cheating as Average Score Falls to 48.6%
3 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · Jul 20
Summary
An in-person final at Brown exposed a sharp gap with an at-home midterm after economics professor Roberto Serrano saw average scores jump to 96% from a historical 65% to 80% range.
18 students dropped the class after Serrano announced the in-person exam, nine more skipped it, and the 59 students who took both tests averaged 48.6% on the final.
The score swings were stark: one student held steady at about 95%, another improved from 55% to 59%, while two students who had perfect midterms scored 0% on the final.
The case fits broader survey data showing 9% of more than 95,000 undergraduates admitted using generative AI to cheat, rising to 26% among daily AI users.
The opinion article argues AI is accelerating a wider campus shift away from honor norms toward a results-first "striver culture" in which cheating carries little social stigma.
With AI creating an 'illusion of mastery,' is the value of a university degree collapsing?
In today's 'striver culture,' does being an honest student mean you are destined to fall behind?
Brown University’s 2026 AI Cheating Scandal: How Widespread Academic Dishonesty Forced a Rethink of Exams and Integrity Policies
Overview
In spring 2026, Brown University faced a major academic integrity crisis when a widespread AI cheating scandal was uncovered in an economics course. Professor Roberto Serrano, whose vigilance and persistence led to the discovery, noted that the cost of cheating had dropped to zero as students increasingly used AI tools instead of learning. Serrano was determined not to let the issue be ignored, ensuring the scandal received serious attention. The incident revealed that a huge number of students were involved, highlighting how easily AI can be misused in education and raising urgent questions about academic honesty and institutional response.