A survey of over 1,000 UK undergraduates by the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) revealed that 53% of students use AI to help generate content for their academic work (The Guardian, 2024). This shift signals how Generative AI (GenAI) tools are becoming essential in students’ daily academic tasks, including essay writing.

While some schools, particularly in New York, have restricted tools like ChatGPT over academic integrity concerns, a pressing question remains: do these tools hinder student learning ? Do they offer new opportunities?

Should we ban them, or find ways to use them responsibly?

To promote fair grading and streamline assessments, software like Compilatio have developed AI scanners for essays. These tools detect AI involvement in student work, saving teachers time and ensuring objective evaluations.

Summary:

What is an AI scanner for essays?

Why teachers need AI scanners now more than ever

How to tell if text is AI-generated?

Key features to look for in an AI scanner tool

How artificial intelligence is shaping the future of higher education

Smarter AI tools to support education

1. What is an AI scanner for essays?

AI scanners are tools that detect whether a text was generated by artificial intelligence. Using machine learning algorithms trained on large datasets of human-written and AI-generated content, these scanners analyze linguistic features to predict AI involvement.

Two key indicators used in AI scanners are:

Perplexity: measures how predictable a text is. AI-generated text often follows more predictable patterns
Burstiness: evaluates variation in sentence length and complexity. Human writing tends to be more diverse, while AI-written text is usually more consistent

By assessing these patterns, AI scanners provide a probability score, indicating the likelihood that a piece of text was AI-generated.

Similar to plagiarism checkers like Compilatio Magister, AI scanners for essays help uphold academic integrity but focus on detecting AI-generated content.

2. Why teachers need AI scanners now more than ever

a. Challenges for higher education

With the widespread use of tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude, educators face significant challenges. Researches from institutions as the University of Oxford and University of Illinois have highlighted them:

Widespread AI use: according to UK surveys, in 2025, over 88% of students will use GenAI for assessments, up from 53% in 2024. This highlights how ingrained AI is in academic work
Unclear boundaries: teachers struggle to distinguish between genuine student work and AI-assisted content, complicating grading and authorship verification
Lack of clear policies: many institutions lack guidelines on acceptable AI use, leaving teachers without institutional support in identifying AI-influenced submissions
Teacher readiness: many educators feel unprepared to address the academic and ethical challenges posed by AI in the classroom

b. Benefits of AI scanners for teachers

AI scanners provide practical support for educators navigating these challenges:

Time-saving: AI Plagiarism checker for teachers like Compilatio Magister+ help educators quickly identify AI-generated writing, reducing manual review time
Enhanced trust: when students know that AI-generated content can be traced, they are more likely to produce authentic work. This also boosts teacher confidence in grading
Objectivity: AI essay checkers use consistent criteria to identify AI content, removing subjective evaluations.

c. Real-life examples of AI's impact

Several universities are already facing challenges with AI-generated content:

University of Reading (UK) conducted a trial where 33 AI-generated exam answers were graded alongside real student submissions. 94% of AI essays went undetected, with most receiving higher grades than human-written work
At SOAS, University of London: Senior Economics lecturer Risa Morimoto saw an increase in suspected AI-written essays, leading her to switch to personalized assessments to ensure authentic student input
Australian universities are investigating a rise in AI-related cheating cases, emphasizing the need for AI detection tools and due-process protections

These examples illustrate how AI has become deeply integrated into essay writing. Some universities have already adapted their policies to address this evolution.

3. How to tell if text is AI-generated?

a. Manual detection and its limitations

Generative AI tools often follow patterns in the way they write. These patterns include generic phrases, repetitive structures, and limited critical thinking. In some cases, people can spot AI-generated content by eye using these clues.

However, this method is not always reliable. AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini keep improving. At the same time, users learn how to write better prompts that hide these patterns. As a result, manual detection becomes harder and less accurate.

That’s why using an AI detector is a more effective way to identify AI-generated text.

b. Using AI scanners for essays

AI scanners for essays offer a more reliable and accurate way to detect AI-generated text. You just paste the text into the tool, and it gives you a score showing how likely the content was created by AI.

These tools get better over time. Their machine learning systems adapt to new AI writing styles, which improves their accuracy.

For example, Compilatio’s AI detection system (version 4.2.1) shows strong results:

98,5% Precision, meaning that out of 100 pieces of text labeled written by AI, only 1 or 2 were written by a human
99% Recall, meaning that out of 100 pieces of text labeled written by AI, only one is missed
99% Accuracy, meaning that out of 100 pieces of text, 99 were correctly labeled as either AI-generated or human-written

These high levels of precision, recall, and accuracy make AI scanners a powerful tool for identifying AI-generated content. This shows how reliable AI detectors are.

4. Key features to look for in an AI scanner for essays

If you're considering using an AI scanner for essays, here are key features to look for:

Accuracy & reliability: ensure the AI scanner is proven to detect AI with high precision and recall.
Integration with LMS: choose AI scanners that integrate seamlessly with learning management systems (LMS) or grading platforms.
Reporting tools: look for AI scanners with clear, user-friendly dashboards and detailed reports.
Language and format support: ensure the AI essay checker can handle multiple languages and different document formats.

The Compilatio AI scanner for essays, also known as AI checker, includes these features and more, making it a strong choice for educators and institutions.

To help you choose the best tool for your needs, Compilatio also offers a comparison guide that highlights key criteria and helps you choose the best AI essay scanner for teachers.

5. How generative artificial intelligence is shaping the future of higher education?

Earlier in this article, we explored the growing use of AI scanners for essays.

Now, we take a broader view of AI in education. Many universities see generative AI tools not just as a technological shift, but as a chance to modernize education by introducing new ways to teach, study, and evaluate work.

They explore the benefits of AI in education, and have updated their policies. Some have even invested in digital tools that integrate AI into their teaching methods!

At the same time, they are aware of the cons and disadvantages of AI in education, like cheating, or too much reliance on technology.

Rather than seeing AI as a threat, they see it as a valuable partner.

a. Evolving academic policies and guidelines for AI use

To promote ethical, effective, and empowering use of AI in education, several universities have created official guidelines. These resources help students and faculty clearly understand how AI tools can be used to support learning, improve productivity, and uphold academic standards.

By defining responsible practices, universities give students the confidence to explore AI tools as part of their academic journey, while strengthening their digital and critical thinking skills.

ai scanner for teachers - guidelines university

Harvard University provides clear policies that outline acceptable AI use, emphasizing transparency, originality, and academic honesty. Their guidelines encourage students to critically engage with AI tools while maintaining responsibility for their submissions.
University of Oxford has introduced AI guidance that highlights the importance of using AI in a way that supports learning, not replace it. Their approach stresses the role of critical thinking and warns against over-reliance on generative AI for academic tasks.
Cornell University offers comprehensive guidance on how to use AI tools ethically in coursework, research, and communication. The university emphasizes informed use and accountability, making sure students understand the boundaries and risks of using AI.

These guidelines aim to shape AI use in a transparent and supportive way. They provide a clear framework that helps students make the most of AI tools while ensuring academic integrity and preparing them for a future where AI will be a core part of professional life

b. AI-driven projects, how universities are pushing boundaries

Beyond policy, some institutions are actively implementing AI-driven projects to improve student outcomes and overall educational experiences.

Ivy Tech Community College has developed a machine-learning algorithm that identifies students at risk of academic failure. By detecting early warning signs, the system enables faculty to intervene with timely support. This proactive approach has helped improve retention rates and reduce dropout levels.
Khan Academy has launched Khanmigo, an AI-powered tutor designed to guide students through subjects like math, science, and writing. Khanmigo also assists teachers by offering suggested lesson plans and helping manage student progress. This tool enhances the classroom experience and encourages self-paced learning.
Georgia State University created Pounce, an AI-powered chatbot that supports incoming students. Pounce answers common questions about registration, financial aid, and coursework through text messages. This direct communication reduces student anxiety and boosts academic readiness.

These projects demonstrate how AI can be used not just to detect or monitor, but to actively support, guide, and empower students. They show that when AI is used intentionally and ethically, it becomes a valuable asset in higher education.

6. Smarter AI tools to support education

artificial intelligence higher education - correcting tool

AI scanner essay tools help teachers check if a text is AI-generated, but AI in education now offers much more.

Gingo is a smart tool designed to save teachers’time and make grading fairer and faster.

Teachers can create exams, and customize the marking scheme to fit their needs.

Gingo’s AI can also grade students' papers. Up to 30 papers in only 4 minutes !

As artificial intelligence in higher education grows, tools like Compilatio Magister+ or Gingo help teachers work smarter, not harder.

These AI-powered tools are real game changers for education.

Generative AI is reshaping how students write and how educators assess academic work. In response, AI scanners for essays are becoming essential tools. They help teachers detect AI-generated content, save time, and promote fair, transparent grading.

More than just detection tools, AI essay scanners also support academic integrity while encouraging responsible use of technology. Generative AI help students in the copywriting process of their essays, papers and theses before turning them in.

With clear guidelines and innovative projects, universities are turning AI into a powerful ally for both teaching and learning.

As our guest speaker Catherine Déri shared in our webinar “How University Professors and Students Adapted to Generative AI Over the Past Three Years”:

“Generative AI should be considered as a co-author, as it can’t take responsibility for the text they are generating.”

This mindset highlights the role of human responsibility in an AI-driven world. With the right tools and values, education can thrive, powered by both human insight and artificial intelligence.

Complementary sources to learn more about ai scanners for essays:

World Economic Forum. (2024, February). With generative AI, we can reimagine education — and the sky is the limit. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/stories/2024/02/with-generative-ai-we-can-reimagine-education-and-the-sky-is-the-limit/

Department for Education. (2023). Generative artificial intelligence in education: Generative artificial intelligence (AI) in education. United Kingdom Government. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/generative-artificial-intelligence-in-education/generative-artificial-intelligence-ai-in-education

Nature. (2023, January). Tools such as ChatGPT threaten transparent science; here are our ground rules for their use. Nature, 613(7945), 612. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-023-00191-1

These blog posts may also interesting you:

“How to choose the best AI essay scanner for teachers?”

“How University Professors and Students Adapted to Generative AI Over the Past Three Years?”

“How do AI detectors work?”

“How reliable is the Compilatio AI detector?”

Note: This informative article, which does not require personal reflection, was partially written with the assistance of ChatGPT. The automatically generated content has been revised (including corrections for repetition, sentence structure, added details, added citations, and fact-checking)

How AI scanners for essays are reshaping teaching and learning?