AI Cheating Investigation Throws UNAM Admissions Into Uncertainty

Thousands of applicants to Mexico's National Autonomous University (UNAM) remain uncertain about their admission status after the university launched an investigation into suspected cheating during its entrance examinations, Mauricio Torres reported for CNN.

Mexico's National Autonomous University is investigating alleged AI-assisted cheating during its admissions examinations. [Photo: Dgcei - UNAM]

One applicant, Daniel Fernando García Velázquez, took the admissions examination four times before earning a score of 94 out of 120, which would normally qualify him for the Communication and Journalism program at UNAM's Aragón School of Higher Studies.

Despite the result, Velázquez remains unsure whether he will be admitted after UNAM temporarily suspended enrollment while investigating alleged widespread cheating ahead of the academic year beginning Aug. 10.

The university invalidated about 3,000 examination results after identifying an unusually high number of perfect scores, raising concerns that some applicants may have used artificial intelligence tools or obtained examination questions in advance.

Although only a small portion of the approximately 150,000 examinations were canceled, many applicants remain in limbo while the investigation continues.

Some students have also questioned the effectiveness of the university's AI-based monitoring system, which was intended to prevent cheating during the examinations, Mario Gonzalez also reported for CNN.