The Black Box of AI: Five Threats ‘The Mechanism’ May not Be Telling You About
The increased use of AI in higher education has led to a constant debate between students, teachers and policymakers about the threats of using AI in the long run. While most of the debates focus on issues such as plagiarism and lack of efficient learning, very few researchers have explored the deeper concerns of the wide use of AI in higher education.
For example, the use of AI often feels like a lifeline to students, as it promises faster research, smoother writing and even language support. However, many students fail to notice the long-term challenges of AI systems that remain opaque to users. These hidden threats are commonly referred to as the “black box problem” and are a growing concern for both universities and students.
In this article, we will explore the five main threats of using AI in higher education that students must be aware of to safeguard their academic future.
What is the “black box of AI”?
The term “black box” refers to AI systems whose internal logic cannot be fully observed or explained, even by their developers. While users see the input and output, the decision-making process in between remains unknown. For university students, unfamiliar academic rules with opaque AI judgments can lead to serious consequences. Thus, understanding these risks is crucial for students to protect their academic future.
Threat 1: AI Detection Tools Are Not as Accurate as Universities Claim
One of the biggest myths in higher education is that AI detection software is highly reliable. However, it has often been noticed that AI detectors frequently produce false positives. This is especially common in academic writing because academic assignments such as essays or dissertations often follow a structured and formal pattern. Additionally, academic assignments include repetitive use of specific phrases and technical terms. As a result, AI detection tools may struggle to distinguish between language proficiency and automation. Due to this, students may be penalised despite submitting original work.
Threat 2: Risk of Plagiarised Text
AI writing tools often collect information from existing sources to generate output. This increases the risk of unintentional plagiarism, as AI may reproduce sentences that are similar to the published work. As universities adopt more advanced tools, even minor similarities can be flagged as machine writing or AI-driven plagiarism. For students, relying completely on AI tools could jeopardise academic integrity and increase the chances of rejection.
Threat 3: Lack of Data Privacy
When students use AI tools to draft academic papers, they contribute towards training datasets that improve AI systems. As a result, students’ academic data could be stored, reused or sold without their consent. Especially for students working on critical topics, ‘the leak of personal data, research findings or unique ideas before publishing the research can be a serious threat, as it could lead to losing their ownership over data.
Threat 4: Loss of Critical Thinking
Although the use of AI tools can accelerate the writing process, over-reliance on these tools can also make students passive learners. Students might prefer to write essays or academic assignments using AI tools to meet deadlines. However, this can affect the critical thinking ability of students, and over a long period, have a negative impact on their creativity and problem-solving abilities. As a result, students risk losing the ability to construct arguments themselves.
Threat 5: Opaque Mechanisms
One of the biggest threats of using AI in higher education is the lack of transparency. Most of the AI systems do not explain how they arrive at conclusions. In many cases, AI systems may even fabricate data or cite non-existent references, which can introduce factual inaccuracies into students’ work. This could lead to serious academic consequences if students are unaware of these risks and submit AI-generated content.
How Ethical Academic Writing Support Protects Students?
As AI is reshaping education, its black-box nature holds a higher potential to create hidden risks for students navigating academic systems. Blind trust in “the AI mechanism” can lead to unfair outcomes, stress, and academic setbacks. Thus, by understanding AI’s limitations and seeking transparent, ethical academic support, students can protect their academic integrity and long-term success.
Professional academic writing services offer a safer, more ethical alternative for students seeking guidance. These services help students to understand their assignment requirements, improve the academic structure and clarity of their research papers, avoid accidental misconduct and assist students in submitting original work that complies with university policies and ethical guidelines.
