That Chart From Brown Isn’t Really About Cheating

A chart from Brown University that appeared to show a spike in cheating after the introduction of AI tools is actually about grade inflation, not academic dishonesty, according to education reporter Leo Schumann. The chart, widely circulated in policy debates, reflects how AI made high grades easier to achieve, not how students broke rules. Schumann argues the misreading of the data has distorted conversations about AI in education.

That Chart From Brown Isn’t Really About Cheating Elizabeth Redden Wed, 07/22/2026 - 03:00 AM We made grades the point. AI just made them cheap. Byline s Leo Schumann