The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) has confirmed that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) does not constitute grounds for invalidating the 2026 entrance exam for undergraduate programs, according to its current regulatory framework. While the university is investigating whether AI was used to gain unfair advantages during the test, experts have pointed out a legal gap, there is no explicit mention of AI usage as a reason for disqualification in the official guidelines. The convocation and instructions for the 2026 selection process, along with the UNAM’s General Registration Regulation, outline mechanisms for canceling registrations, exams, or even admissions when irregularities threaten the authenticity of the admission process. These include violations such as using unauthorized electronic devices, impersonation, sharing information, or photographing exam questions. However, the document does not specifically address the use of AI tools, despite their growing role in academic dishonesty. The online format of this year's entrance exam marked the first time the UNAM conducted such a test remotely. The rules prohibit the use of smartphones, smartwatches, calculators, and other electronic devices during the examination. Yet, they do not explicitly cover AI, which has become a central point of discussion in the ongoing review of the exam results. Experts argue that while existing regulations penalize external help and unauthorized technology, they do not clearly define AI-related misconduct. Horacio Martínez, an education evaluation specialist, highlighted that the absence of a clear reference to AI in the convocation creates a legal and operational challenge for the university. He explained that any sanctions against students using AI would rely on interpretations of broader terms like "external assistance" or "unauthorized device," rather than a specific rule. This approach, he warned, could undermine principles of legality and due process, especially given the high stakes of the exam for thousands of applicants. Across the globe, the rise of AI in academic settings has sparked concerns about cheating and the erosion of critical thinking skills. In the United States, studies show a sharp increase in students using AI to complete assignments. A national survey by the RAND Corporation found that nearly two-thirds of young people had used AI for homework by December 2025, up from 48% in May 2025. Similarly, a study by Stanford University and Challenge Success revealed that over a quarter of students admitted to using AI or unauthorized devices in evaluations, with many acknowledging academic dishonesty. In some cases, AI-generated content has led to outright fraud. Students in Massachusetts were caught using grammar-checking tools like Grammarly to produce parts of school projects, including fabricated references and non-existent books. One student admitted to using the tool to create sections of a project, while others spent hours completing tasks manually. A federal judge noted that these students had copied and pasted text generated by the AI, including fictional citations, effectively creating false work. At the university level, the issue is becoming more pronounced. A study by the University of California, Berkeley, analyzed data from over 95,000 students across major U.S. public universities and found that two-thirds had used AI-generating tools during the 2023–2024 academic cycle. Among them, at least 9% admitted to using AI for cheating, with higher rates among frequent users. The impact varied by discipline, with economics and journalism showing particularly high levels of AI use. Igor Chirikov, lead author of the study, warned that while AI can produce impressive results and even earn good grades, it risks undermining key learning objectives such as critical thinking and problem-solving. His analysis of over 500,000 graded assignments showed that after the introduction of ChatGPT, the proportion of top scores increased significantly in courses involving writing or programming tasks. This trend raises serious concerns about the long-term implications for educational integrity and skill development.
★
Keep the news honest.
ObjectiveNews is reader-funded and ad-free — we show you the bias instead of hiding it. Support independent journalism for €4/month.
Become a Supporter
MX
