Dartmouth College announced an investigation into its provost, Santiago Schnell, after the student-run newspaper found his published writing appeared to be generated by artificial intelligence. Dr. Schnell, a mathematical biologist, acknowledged using AI for language refinement and clarity in his work but did not always disclose its use. The controversy emerged following a Semafor investigation that flagged his August 9 commentary in The Washington Post as AI-written, and a subsequent review by The Dartmouth revealed extensive AI use in his publications this year. Students, including senior Eli Moyse, condemned the situation as hypocritical, arguing that faculty penalize students for AI-assisted work while using it themselves without transparency.

Similar concerns have surfaced at George Washington University and Brown University, where surveys show widespread student doubts about faculty AI use. Dartmouth President Sian Beilock acknowledged the challenges of early AI adoption, calling missteps part of institutional learning, while declining further comment beyond her initial statement. Dr. Schnell apologized for not consistently disclosing AI use, emphasizing the need for robust intellectual discussions on ethical AI integration in academia.