Can Canvas Detect ChatGPT? An In-Depth Analysis

How Does Canvas Detect AI & Plagiarism Using Turnitin?

Turnitin is one of the most commonly used plugins for detecting AI-generated content within Canvas.

“Our document false positive rate—incorrectly identifying fully human-written text as AI-generated within a document—is less than 1% for documents with 20% or more AI writing,” says Annie Chechitelli, Chief Product Officer at Turnitin.

Initially, Turnitin divides the assignment into chunks of a few hundred words (about five to ten sentences). It overlaps these chunks to capture each sentence in context. These chunks are then analyzed by an AI detection model and assigned a score between 0 and 1 for each sentence. A score of 0 means the sentence is likely human-written, while a score of 1 indicates it was produced by AI.

For identifying plagiarism, Turnitin looks for similarities in:

• Similar text/phrases: Turnitin can identify large source overlaps by comparing the submitted text to its vast database.

• Grammar patterns: Turnitin can spot paraphrase tools used in odd grammatical patterns.

• Writing style: Turnitin analyzes writing style for variations related to plagiarism.

After the analysis, Turnitin provides a Similarity Report and an Originality Report to show the extent of similarities and AI-generated content in your paper.

Does Canvas Automatically Have Turnitin?

No, Canvas itself does not automatically include Turnitin for plagiarism or AI content checking. However, teachers can easily integrate Turnitin in two ways: as an External Tool or via the Plagiarism Framework. Both options are available in Canvas, and instructors can choose the workflow that best meets their assignment requirements.

Tips to Avoid Canvas AI Detector & Plagiarism

Now that you understand how Canvas can detect when you use ChatGPT, here are some effective ways to keep your assignments authentic while using AI tools:

1. Deep Understanding: Conduct thorough research to develop your unique perspective on the topic. This helps you craft original arguments distinct from AI-generated ideas.

2. Unique Tone: Every student has a unique tone. Developing your style will help prevent robotic-sounding text that might be flagged as AI.

3. Specific Examples and Insights: Include personal experiences to make your writing more authentic.

4. Cite Your Sources: Always remember to cite your sources using recognized style guides such as MLA, APA, or Chicago.

5. Fact-Check: Verify all information sources to ensure their authenticity.

6. Paraphrasing: Modify the wording and sentence structure to better reflect your style rather than copying what ChatGPT writes.

7. Using AI Humanize Tools: Consider AI writing tools with a humanize feature, such as Undetectable AI, to make the content appear more like it was written by a human.