Artificial Intelligence (AI) is everywhere—from summarizing notes and checking grammar to generating examples, it’s already a part of your daily study routine. But when it comes to the International Baccalaureate (IB), a crucial question arises: How can you use AI in your coursework without compromising your academic integrity?

The IB has made its position crystal clear: “Using AI to help you learn is acceptable. Using AI to pretend you did work you did not, that is not acceptable.” This key distinction is the foundation for using AI ethically throughout your IB journey.

The Basics: What the IB Expects of You

The IB framework is built on a foundation of authenticity, fairness, and independent thinking. For you, this means a few essential things:

• Cite everything. If an idea or a piece of writing isn’t 100% your own, you must cite it—and this includes anything generated by AI.
• Show your skills. Submitting work that is simply copied or heavily paraphrased (from AI or any other source) won’t earn credit. Examiners need to see your analysis, your evaluation, and your original thinking.
• Your teachers know you. They are your best resource. They know your writing style and approach and can spot when work doesn’t reflect your true abilities. They may ask you to explain your work to confirm it’s authentic.

Using AI in Practice: A Quick Guide

The IB has provided a helpful breakdown of what’s acceptable and what’s not. Think of this as a quick reference for your assignments:

• Acceptable uses: Using AI to summarize material, create a reference list, or explore counterarguments is fine, as long as you follow up with your own research and original work. Using it to check grammar, spelling, or a practice essay outline is also okay.
• Unacceptable uses: You should never use AI to generate your research question, rewrite an entire essay, translate a paper for submission, or write your personal reflections. Hiding your use of AI is also a definite no.

The key is that your final submission must be a reflection of your work, not a computer’s.

Why Transparency Matters

Just as you would cite a book, article, or website, you must acknowledge your use of AI. In some cases, this may even mean including the prompts you used and the output you received.

The goal isn’t to penalize you. It’s to foster a culture of honesty and accountability. By showing how you used AI, you help your teachers and examiners see your learning process, not just the final product.

Your Final Thought: AI as a Partner, Not a Shortcut

AI is not banned in the IB. Instead, when used responsibly, it can be a powerful partner in your learning journey. It can help you brainstorm, explore new perspectives, and refine your work.

However, there is one thing AI cannot replace: your own critical thinking, curiosity, and unique voice. Your IB success hinges on your ability to understand, analyze, and evaluate ideas. By using AI with honesty and integrity, you ensure your work truly represents you.

Work Cited

International Baccalaureate. Academic Integrity Policy. International Baccalaureate Organization, 2019.

International Baccalaureate. Academic Integrity: Policy Appendix on the Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools in Student Work. International Baccalaureate Organization, 2023.