Officials probing the Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) question paper leak case have found that one of the seven accused used the generative AI tool ChatGPT to get answers to the questions. According to The Times of India, a Special Investigating Team (SIT) found that one of the accused used the AI tool after he got the leaked paper for recruiting an assistant executive engineer (AEE) and divisional account officer. The accused then relayed the answers to other aspirants via Bluetooth earbuds during the exam, the report points out. This could be one of the first cases in the country, where government aspirants used ChatGPT to cheat in the examination and got caught.
The report adds that the SIT discovered details after they questioned a divisional engineer with Telangana State Northern Power Distribution Company Limited in Peddapalli. The team picked up Poola Ramesh who hatched a plan to feed answers provided by ChatGPT to seven aspirants sitting for two exams earlier this year (January 22 and February 26).
Ramesh seemingly accessed the leaked question paper 10 minutes after the exam and used ChatGPT to write answers. Each of the seven candidates allegedly agreed to pay Rs 40 lakh to pass the exams. Ramesh had helped other candidates cheat in an exam on March 5, though he did not use ChatGPT for answers.
Quoting a police officer, the report highlights, “Ramesh sold the leaked question paper to more than 30 candidates for 25 lakh to 30 lakh each.” The report states he is yet to be arrested.
There’s a growing concern with generative AI tools, as they remain free to use and super simple. Tools like ChatGPT and Microsoft Bing are now available in app form, helping users access information on the go. While generative AI tools have many benefits, there are concerns related to cheating in exams and assignments and taking over some jobs. Some universities have also raised issues with students using ChatGPT to solve assignments. ChatGPT maker OpenAI has rolled out a tool to help with plagiarism, but the platform has miles to cover.
Similarly, some experts, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk, wanted a pause on developments related to generative AI tools. However, that’s unlikely without the government’s intervention. Generative AI tool pioneers like Google, Microsoft and OpenAI argue that tools like Bard, Bing, and ChatGPT have the potential to improve life. The companies also expect setbacks but claim that’s with any other cutting-edge
technology.