Victorian state schools to block access to ChatGPT
Victoria will join a number of states across the country to ban students and staff from using the artificial intelligence service ChatGPT.
The decision will see access to the chatbot blocked from all state school servers and devices.
Victoria's education department confirmed that the decision was an interim measure and was due its terms of use, which specify that users must be at least 18 years of age.
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Educators are worried that ChatGPT's ability to write just about anything on command could fuel academic dishonesty and hinder learning. AP
"The department is undertaking further analysis of the implications of these emerging technologies and is preparing advice for schools," it said.
ChatGPT is an AI-powered chatbot that interacts with users in an eerily convincing and conversational way.
Its ability to provide lengthy, thoughtful and thorough responses to questions and prompts has stunned users, including academics and some in the tech industry since its debut last year.
Victoria is the latest state in the country to ban ChatGPT at public schools joining New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania and Western Australia.
However the controversial artificial intelligence program is allowed in South Australian classrooms.
Some teachers fear cheating students will use it to write essays and complete questionnaires.
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