Utsunomiya University has revealed that a professor in the International Studies department engaged in fraudulent activities in a paper concerning generative AI. The university noted that the paper included false statements and inappropriate data collection methods. As a result, the university has recommended the professor retract the paper and is considering disciplinary actions based on employment regulations.

The contested paper was authored by Professor Yi Yongmo and addressed developments and challenges of generative AI in competitive programming. The university explained that while the professor claimed in the paper to have collected data using problems from programming contests that had already concluded, the truth was that he participated in these contests in real-time, contravening the rules which explicitly prohibited the use of generative AI during competitions. By knowingly violating these guidelines and utilizing a program crafted by generative AI to formulate answers, the professor's actions constitute a serious breach of academic integrity.

This situation came to light following whistleblower reports received by the university in September of last year. The implications of this misconduct highlight broader concerns regarding the ethical use of technology in academic research and the increasing scrutiny of AI-generated content in educational settings, raising questions about accountability and the standards of rigor in academic work involving AI.