Buzz
A detailed exploration of Blackboard, TurnItIn, SafeAssign, and AI-generated submissions
Blackboard is a widely used learning management system for educators and students around the world. By itself, Blackboard doesn’t perform plagiarism or AI content checks. However, integrated tools like TurnItIn and SafeAssign do. Since most instructors rely on one or both, AI-generated work is typically flagged upon submission. Here's when, how, and why Blackboard won’t let AI writing slip by unnoticed.
Can Blackboard Detect Writing from AI Tools?
Blackboard isn’t inherently built to detect chatbot-generated content, but it includes built-in tools that do. TurnItIn and SafeAssign are integrated and effective at identifying AI-assisted writing.
Process
Is Blackboard capable of spotting AI-generated writing?
Not directly, but it’s equipped to detect AI content. Blackboard functions as a platform for managing educational content—it doesn’t perform analysis by itself. Still, most instructors integrate tools into their Blackboard courses that detect AI writing and plagiarism. So while Blackboard doesn’t inherently catch or other AI text, it offers the tools necessary to do so.
- The most trusted and widely adopted detection tools are SafeAssign and TurnItIn, both of which are commonly used by educators.
What makes plagiarism checkers flag AI content?
AI responses are often sourced from existing material. Tools like , Bard, Claude, Bing AI, and Gemini don’t create original thoughts—they compile responses by scanning existing content and databases. So when you paste AI-generated content, there’s a high chance it mirrors published material.
- Even if a reverse search shows the content isn’t online, it might still be flagged as plagiarized.
AI tends to repeat itself, making detection likely even for ‘new’ answers. You might believe the text you received hasn’t been used before, but AI often recycles phrasing and structure. If someone else asked the same question previously and submitted the AI's response, plagiarism tools may already have it on file.
- For instance, if you ask AI, “How did tax policy influence the American Revolution,” the same response could’ve been submitted by another student—leading to a match in Blackboard’s database.
Understanding How AI Detection Systems Operate
SafeAssign uses algorithms to detect text similarities. With a massive database of over 59 million student papers, SafeAssign can even identify copied content that hasn’t been publicly released. It also scans submissions against online sources and picks up on even slight rewordings, so tweaking AI-generated content won’t help.
- SafeAssign doesn’t scream “plagiarism!” at instructors—it highlights portions of text and shows a match percentage (like “71% match”). Educators then check the source and determine if it's plagiarized. Even small sections can raise red flags.
TurnItIn evaluates tone and structure to spot AI-generated work. While SafeAssign looks for direct matches, TurnItIn assesses writing style to trace patterns back to AI tools. Since every AI bot has unique traits, TurnItIn flags text that fits those patterns and prompts instructor review.
- TurnItIn is 97% effective at detecting AI-written content, with just a 1% false positive rate. Using AI is very likely to get you flagged.
- In addition to AI detection, TurnItIn also checks for standard plagiarism like SafeAssign.
- It’s also embedded in Canvas to identify AI content on that platform.
Is it possible to bypass AI detection tools?
Using free AI bypass tools is a high-risk move. Several free sites claim they can fool AI detectors, but their output is usually low quality—and there’s little proof they work.
- Teacher tip: These tools often just change sentence structure (like flipping active voice to passive). If you notice sudden voice shifts, a student may be trying to disguise AI content.
- Teacher tip: Watch for odd homophone errors (like “The subject of this essay” turned into “To subject you to this essay”). These slips often signal a bypass tool at work.
Paid AI bypass tools cost a lot and aren’t foolproof. The most reliable method for dodging AI detection is using a paid service like Bypass AI or Bypass GPT. These are more effective than free alternatives but typically cost around $30 per month. Even then, they aren’t guaranteed to beat advanced detectors like TurnItIn or SafeAssign, making them a risky investment.
Deliberate typos and grammar errors might fool detectors. AI-generated writing is usually grammatically clean and correctly spelled. If someone is trying hard to evade detection, intentionally inserting spelling and grammar mistakes might help.
- Tip for teachers: Include grammar and spelling in your grading rubric to discourage students from attempting this tactic.
Is using AI to complete assignments morally acceptable?
No, and relying on it does more harm than good. Submitting AI-generated work as your own is academic dishonesty. It’s not just about breaking the rules—it’s about cheating yourself out of learning. Every assignment, even the tough ones, helps build essential thinking and writing skills. Skipping that growth by cheating won’t help you reach your goals.
