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AI-enabled cheating is forcing some schools to go analog
Brief published July 12, 2026 ยท Original source published July 11, 2026
Original reporting by Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert, Henry Chandonnet at businessinsider.com.
Automated brief. Verify important details at the original source.
What happened
The University of Chicago Law School has announced a laptop ban aimed at promoting independent thinking among students, citing concerns about AI-enabled cheating and the broader influence of AI on legal education and practice. The policy represents one of the more direct institutional responses to generative AI in academic settings, moving away from digital tools rather than attempting to regulate their use through software or honor codes.
Why it matters
Law schools face particular pressure because legal reasoning and writing are core professional competencies that AI tools can now replicate or shortcut. If students bypass developing those skills, the downstream effects reach legal practice directly. Analog restrictions signal that some institutions view AI governance through prohibition rather than integration.
What to watch
Whether other law schools or professional programs adopt similar bans, and how the University of Chicago Law School plans to enforce and evaluate the policy over time will indicate whether analog restrictions gain traction as a credible institutional strategy.