Story · abc_au + guardian · 3 events
Sydney academic used AI to write SMH opinion piece urging students to avoid using tech to ‘cut corners’
Sydney academic used AI to write SMH opinion piece urging students to avoid using tech to ‘cut corners’
<p>Sydney Morning Herald removes piece by Cath Ellis, despite Western Sydney University saying her use of AI was ‘appropriate’</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2026/jun/03/politics-live-australia-aukus-submarines-pauline-hanson-anthony-albanese-angus-taylor-question-time-senate-estimates-labor-one-nation-coaliton-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></p></li><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>A top Sydney academic used AI to write an opinion piece that urged students to “do the work” and not cut corners by using such technology, with the Sydney Morning Herald removing the “unacceptable” piece from its website.</p><p>Western Sydney University’s pro-vice chancellor for quality and integrity, Prof Cath Ellis, had an opinion piece published in the Sydney Morning Heral…
A uni professor admitted using AI to write an opinion piece. Here’s what it revealed about trust in the technology
A uni professor admitted using AI to write an opinion piece. Here’s what it revealed about trust in the technology
<p>Without disclosing that work has been generated using the technology, faith in existing industries will continue to be undermined </p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2026/jun/05/tax-changes-labor-coalition-politics-housing-prices-nsw-pharmacists-trump-tariffs-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></p></li><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcas</a></p></li></ul><p>When a university vice-chancellor this week <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jun/03/sydney-academic-used-ai-opinion-piece-urging-students-to-avoid-using-it-ntwnfb">admitted to using AI</a> in writing an opinion piece for a major Australian masthead, but did not disclose that use prior to publication, it highlighted the growing gap between people’s use of AI and trust in the technology.</p><p>Dat…
Sydney Morning Herald takes down article after author admits using AI
Sydney Morning Herald takes down article after author admits using AI
The Sydney Morning Herald has taken down an opinion piece defending the use of artificial intelligence at universities, after it emerged its author used AI to write it.
Corroboration
No verdict, no pronouncement. The model extracts atomic factual claims with verbatim quotes; every quote is validated against the source text and corroboration is computed by counting how many editorially-opposed blocs assert each fact.
The spine · 0 facts corroborated across ≥2 opposed blocs
No fact in this cluster crossed two opposed editorial blocs. The facts below are reported, but not (yet) independently corroborated across the divide.
Single-source · 5 — reported by one bloc only (uncorroborated)
The Sydney Morning Herald took down an opinion piece defending the use of artificial intelligence at universities.
abc_au
The Sydney Morning Herald took down an opinion piece by Cath Ellis.
guardian
The opinion piece urged students to avoid using AI to 'cut corners'.
guardian
Western Sydney University said Cath Ellis’s use of AI was 'appropriate'.
guardian
The Sydney Morning Herald called the opinion piece 'unacceptable'.
guardian
Framing · 3 — loaded language surfaced (spin shown, not adopted)
abc_au
“The Sydney Morning Herald has taken down an opinion piece defending the use of artificial intelligence at universities, after it emerged its author used AI to write it.”
→ The Sydney Morning Herald took down an opinion piece defending the use of artificial intelligence at universities because its author used AI to write it.
guardian
“A top Sydney academic used AI to write an opinion piece that urged students to “do the work” and not cut corners by using such technology, with the Sydney Morning Herald removing the “unacceptable” piece from its website.”
→ Cath Ellis used AI to write an opinion piece that urged students to avoid using AI to cut corners, and the Sydney Morning Herald removed it.
guardian
“despite Western Sydney University saying her use of AI was ‘appropriate’”
→ Western Sydney University said Cath Ellis’s use of AI was appropriate, but the Sydney Morning Herald still removed the piece.