Dartmouth Provost Resigns Amid AI Disclosure Scandal

Dartmouth College Provost Santiago Schnell has resigned following an investigation that uncovered his failure to disclose significant use of artificial intelligence in his academic work and a published op-ed. The advisory committee's report cited 'insufficient cooperation' from Schnell during their inquiry.

Schnell's use of AI, primarily through a Dartmouth enterprise account with Claude, involved revising papers, debugging code, and editing figures. While he maintained AI was an 'editorial aid,' committee findings suggest his actual use may have exceeded public statements, including asking AI to review his work for 'signatures of AI writing.'

The resignation occurs as Dartmouth, a historic hub for AI research, hosts a conference on AI's future. President Sian Leah Beilock emphasized the need for leaders to model transparency amid evolving AI integration. Meanwhile, student surveys reveal mixed views on AI, with concerns about fairness and its impact on writing skills.

Schnell himself has written extensively on AI detection, arguing for human responsibility over text regardless of AI's role. However, his personal non-disclosure, even when required by publishers, has led to his departure, highlighting a critical challenge for academic institutions navigating AI ethics.