Uses and Misuses of AI-assisted writing in Engineering Reports

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming more widely used by engineering students especially with writing reports. This paper focuses on the use of AI writing assistance tool, ChatGPT, in mechanical engineering reports. Instructors have noticed various levels of AI-assistance in reports often by observing "non-natural" word choices which are not consistent with the way the student communicates verbally. It is often difficult to confirm the level of AI-assistance in a report. This paper summarizes findings of AI-assisted writings in reports, and concludes with a summary of the challenges based on recent observations.