Brown University economics professor Roberto Serrano became suspicious when scores for his take-home exam soared to an average of 96%|Will Hart|CC BY 2.0
Brown University is at the center of a major academic scandal that underscores how deeply AI chatbots have become embedded in student life at Ivy League schools.
Concerns were raised by Brown’s economics professor Roberto Serrano, who accused students of using AI to cheat on a take-home exam.
He also faulted the university for what he described as a “meek” response to the evidence.
He found that the average score on his spring 2026 take-home midterm jumped to an unprecedented 96%.
He told Inside Higher Ed that the results were surprising given the exam was tougher than in prior years, when average scores typically ranged between 65% and 80%.
The take-home exam format was adopted after students expressed anxiety about attending classes in the wake of a mass shooting on campus during finals week the previous December.
After raising concerns about AI use, Serrano moved the final exam to an in-person format and made it worth 80% of the course grade. Students averaged a historic low of 48%.
He warns that tolerating such cheating among top minds will lead to a declining and “failed society.”
The incident reflects broader education trends
A recent Princeton University survey found that nearly 30% of students admitted to cheating using AI.
The Brown report titled “Generative AI in Teaching and Learning” revealed that 56% of undergraduates and 67% of graduate/medical students use generative AI daily or weekly.
The analysis had students expressing concerns and fear over the negative impact of AI use on their “learning” and “cognitive capacity.”