In perhaps the biggest tech shake-up since 2022’s seismic arrival of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, the January release of competitor DeepSeek-R1 has seemingly marked the AI arms race’s “Sputnik moment”. We’ve already seen the effects of this landmark moment as Alphabet, OpenAI, and others make big moves to counter the critical hit sustained from DeepSeek’s release. As competition drives performance up and costs down, some of the most cost-conscious among us, students, are equipped with an ever-strengthening bevy of AI tools.

But new data collected earlier this month by Undetectable AI suggests AI usage at American colleges and universities is proliferating not just among students, but also their professors. And AI fears, once attributed solely to educators, are now weighing on the minds of students.

Key Takeaways

• A strong majority (62%) of college students have used AI tools to help complete assignments or exams.
• Opinions on the ethical implications of AI use are divided; only 26% of students consider it cheating, while many remain neutral.
• A surprisingly high 68% admitted to past instances of cheating without AI support, prompting speculation as to whether AI actually promotes cheating.
• Of students utilizing AI tools in the prior 30 days, 92% have used ChatGPT, while 65% have already tried newcomer DeepSeek.
• Instructors play an active role in AI integration, as 62% of students have received coursework mandating the use of these tools
• Students studying computer science, law, and liberal arts are most concerned about AI’s effects on their future careers.

In a survey of 1,489 current undergrad and graduate students conducted between February 1 and 3, 2025, we asked whether they have ever used AI tools, including chatbots, search engines, and writing aids, to complete assignments or exams that didn’t require AI tools for completion. The results found 62% of respondents had done so, while 31% said they had not used AI tools, and 7% were either unsure or preferred not to answer. Still, the controversial practice of asking AI to complete some or all of an assignment is only viewed as outright cheating by 29%.

So are these easily available AI tools spawning a new generation of academic reprobates? Likely not. We also learned that in the absence of AI technology, 68% of students admit to having cheated on or plagiarized an assignment or exam in the past, leaving us with a bona fide chicken or the egg situation. It’s also important to keep in mind that the emergence of AI tools includes plagiarism detectors, now firmly in the repertoire of instructors at all levels of education. 

Much like teachers in the infancy of the pocket calculator, instructors are largely embracing the use of AI, demonstrating an “if you can’t beat ’em’, join ‘em” attitude. This, of course, comes with the caveat that AI tools should be used as just that: tools for tasks such as brainstorming, spell checking, and organizing, rather than as a personal scribe. Still, about 1 in 3 say that not a single professor has welcomed the use of AI in their coursework. 

The seemingly endless barrage of innovations in the field of artificial intelligence has left students across many disciplines feeling uncertain about the influence AI will have on the future career field. While some, particularly those studying computer science and the law, are greatly concerned about what AI will mean for their working lives, those going into agriculture, medicine, and education believe their chosen fields keep them relatively insulated from the downsides that may come from AI’s constant innovation.

Just 26% of current students expect their future earnings to be boosted thanks to AI technology, while about a quarter are unsure. More than half, 51%, expect their value in the marketplace to be lowered. We’re already seeing AI reshape the job market, and these shifts will abound exponentially as artificial intelligence continues to advance and become more efficient.

Despite widespread concern AI could negatively affect future career earning potential, just 19% of current students have changed their field of study or career plans in response. The vast majority, 77%, are staying put despite future uncertainty. 

Methodology

Between February 1-3, 2025, we surveyed 1,489 undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled in a degree program at an on-campus or online university. Our respondents ranged from 18 to 43 years of age. All respondents were identified to ensure the pre-screening information they provided was accurate.

Fair Use

You are welcome and encouraged to feature this data in a story or article. Please be sure to provide attribution to Undetectable AI and include a link to this page so readers can view the full report.