In the investigation into the case of the Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) question paper leak, officials have discovered that one of the seven individuals involved utilised the generative AI tool ChatGPT to obtain answers for the questions. According to The Times of India, a Special Investigating Team (SIT) revealed that the accused accessed the AI tool after acquiring the leaked paper for the recruitment of an assistant executive engineer (AEE) and divisional account officer. The accused then shared the answers with other aspirants using Bluetooth earbuds during the exam. This incident could be one of the first instances in the country where government job seekers resorted to using ChatGPT to cheat in an examination but were apprehended.According to the report, the Special Investigating Team (SIT) uncovered these details during their interrogation of a divisional engineer from the Telangana State Northern Power Distribution Company Limited in Peddapalli. One of the individuals involved, Poola Ramesh, devised a scheme to provide answers obtained from ChatGPT to seven aspiring candidates who were appearing for two exams held on January 22 and February 26 earlier this year.image source: yahooRamesh was able to obtain the leaked question paper shortly after the exam and reportedly utilised ChatGPT to formulate the answers. It is alleged that each of the seven candidates involved agreed to pay Rs 40 lakh in order to pass the exams. Additionally, Ramesh had assisted other candidates in cheating during an exam on March 5, although ChatGPT was not used for providing answers in that instance.According to a police officer quoted in the report, Ramesh is alleged to have sold the leaked question paper to over 30 candidates at prices ranging from 25 lakh to 30 lakh each. The report mentions that Ramesh is currently evading arrest and has not been apprehended yet.The increasing availability and simplicity of generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Microsoft Bing in the form of mobile apps have raised concerns among various stakeholders. While these tools offer convenience and accessibility, there are apprehensions regarding their misuse for cheating in exams and assignments, as well as the potential impact on certain job roles. Several universities have expressed concerns about students utilising ChatGPT to complete their assignments. In response to these issues, OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, has introduced a plagiarism detection tool, although there is still a long way to go in addressing these challenges comprehensively.In line with the concerns raised by experts, such as Elon Musk, there have been calls for a temporary halt in the development of generative AI tools. However, it appears unlikely that such a pause will occur without government intervention. Industry leaders in generative AI, including Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI, defend the potential benefits of tools like Bard, Bing, and ChatGPT, asserting that they have the ability to enhance our lives. These companies acknowledge that setbacks are expected in the development of any cutting-edge technology, but they remain optimistic about the overall positive impact of generative AI tools.
