With the ChatGPT chatbot being the go-to for many writers and students alike, it brings up the question “Does Turnitin detect ChatGPT use?”
This is a legitimate question and lucky for you, we have got the answer along with more relevant information.
Does Turnitin Detect ChatGPT?
Officially speaking, no, Turnitin does not detect any use of the ChatGPT language model chatbot. This is mainly due to the fact that text that is generated and then used from the ChatGPT chatbot does not yet have a hidden signature (also known as a watermark) to show that it was created by the AI chatbot.
This means that Turnitin can most likely tell that you used ChatGPT as a source of information but it cannot yet detect that the words themselves were generated from the ChatGPT AI chatbot service.
This is great news for anyone who enjoys or finds the use of ChatGPT useful; however, this does not mean that you can throw all caution to the wind.
It is important to understand the function and purpose of Turnitin. The main focus of Turnitin’s function could be considered to stop and avert students from plagiarizing.
With that said, there are two other base purposes for Turnitin, which are to detail any events of plagiarism in the reviewed piece, and to assist students with recognizing and then fixing any forms of plagiarism in their work.
Now that we understand exactly what Turnitin is looking for, let’s break down ChatGPT. The ChatGPT chatbot cannot come up with original information because the AI language model can only create content based on what is entered into the program.
This is especially apparent and true if the input provided is copied from a different source, which means that you will get out what you put into the system.
For example, if someone was writing about how ice cream is made, and copied a text about the subject then entered that text into ChatGPT to generate ideas; the content that the AI will provide will also contain the text that was copied and entered into the input.
Now, you may know that ChatGPT does not have access to outside sources such as websites, the internet, or otherwise; which may make you wonder “Then how come it can plagiarize information?”
However, the answer is simple: if the information that is fed to the program is already copied from somewhere else, it will produce text that contains that copied content.
Another example of this was done by a Reddit user that hilariously asked ChatGPT to write a story about a vampire chicken that falls in love with a regular chicken and within the content that ChatGPT provided for the story, ChatGPT described how the vampire chicken sparkled in the moonlight; which essentially confirms that ChatGPT will plagiarize content.
Knowing this, you can apply this information when you use the ChatGPT chatbot to create your content and when it is subsequently run through the Turnitin plagiarism detectors.
Bear in mind, that when you do use ChatGPT, make sure that you do not use copied text to enter into the ChatGPT input.
You will want to either change how the information is worded or switch up how it is said, which should result in the ChatGPT AI creating your content without any detectable plagiarism.
So, if there is no detectable plagiarism in the text that you submit to Turnitin, it will not give you a bad or concerning score on your piece.
Does Turnitin Have A Hidden Signature?
You may or may not know what a hidden signature is, which is essentially an authentication stamp for digital documents, files, images, ect. A good way to understand what it does is to relate it to a watermark on money or a valuable painting/image.
The hidden signature is basically the digital equivalent of a watermark, which means that the Turnitin software can sometimes see the hidden signature from an information source that you used for your essay, article, or otherwise.
You can visualize the hidden signature as a callback to the original source of the information that you used, which means that Turnitin can use the hidden signature to identify where you gathered the information.
However, for now, the data that is both generated and subsequently used from the ChatGPT chatbot does not have a hidden signature, which means Turnitin will not be able to track the said data back to where you got it (ChatGPT).
When Will Turnitin Detect ChatGPT?
There have been rumors making the rounds on Reddit about ChatGPT eventually implementing a hidden signature (digital watermark) for the text that is created using the language model AI; however, if the team at OpenAI does do this, they could face backlash from users.
Furthermore, adding this hidden signature/feature will be difficult and many are wondering how and if OpenAI will achieve the potential change.
If they do succeed, there will be a way for Turnitin and other detectors to verify that the data came from an AI source (ChatGPT).
With all of that said, the day when and if they do add an embedded hidden signature to information produced by the ChatGPT chatbot is quite far off on the horizon.
Also, considering the technology capability that is available and will also be available by that time, it is feasible that there will be more players in the game of AI language models.
This means that if OpenAI does implement a hidden signature/feature to the content that is created by ChatGPT, there will likely be somewhere else you can go to get the said data without a hidden signature.
So, while Turnitin could someday detect any use of the ChatGPT chatbot, it is relatively far off in the future and as previously stated, by that time there will likely be other services available that will not be detectable by the detectors within Turnitin software.
Take heart, because for now, Turnitin cannot detect the use of ChatGPT.
How to Get Past Plagiarism Detectors
It can be very difficult to get around the plagiarism detectors. Luckily, there are other methods that could help you rephrase the content so that it is not flagged as being plagiarized content.
Not only will you want to make sure that you enter none plagiarized words into the input on ChatGPT, but you will likely also want to use a paraphrasing tool such as Quillbot so that it can help you to avoid plagiarizing any content.
With assignments being assigned digitally becoming normal for many schools and institutions, it is also becoming more likely for students to use the ChatGPT chatbot to help them come up with content for essays.
With that said, if you are one of these students already using the language model, you do not want to accidentally plagiarize your information.
Just keep in mind, that any text that you put into the ChatGPT chatbot’s input, will also be used in the content that you receive from the chatbot.
Without further ado, let us get some methods you can use to avoid plagiarism
1. Use Quillbot
If you are not familiar with Quillbot, it is also an AI writing tool similar to ChatGPT or Rytr that can help to not only write better, more accurate content about current events or subjects, but it can also help you to paraphrase your information.
With this in mind, it is more accurate to call it a paraphrasing tool, which means it will help you to word a sentence or more in a different way so that you can avoid plagiarizing someone else’s work.
This incredibly helpful tool is not only free to use in its basic version but it can also save you from plagiarizing.
This nifty paraphrasing tool offers a couple of regular modes for writing assistance and up to five different premium modes that can be accessed for a fee.
So, what you can do is combine the services offered by the ChatGPT chatbot along with the ones available on Quillbot.
This way you are getting the information you need from ChatGPT and then you are ensuring that there is no detectable plagiarism by running the said content through the Quillbot.
When you use Quillbot, not only are you making sure that your writing has a readable flow, but you are also ensuring that the words you have come up with are not the same as the ones you may have copied and entered in the ChatGPT chatbot.
This is because Quillbot is a paraphrasing tool, which means that it will still say what you mean to say but it will also provide another way to say it without exactly copying your source information.
What’s more, is that you will still be able to edit and customize the words or paragraphs you have run through Quillbot, which is very useful.
To add to Quillbot’s incredible free features, it can also assist you with the tone of your content, so that you can convey a certain vibe that you may be aiming for with the subject.
As previously mentioned, if you pair Quillbot’s fire features along with the useful capabilities of the ChatGPT chatbot, you are almost guaranteed to come up with well-written, plagiarism-free, original content that won’t be detected by Turnitin.
2. Edit the Text Yourself
Another viable option when you are using the ChatGPT chatbot for your writing and are also going for plagiarism-free original content is to edit the text yourself.
Now, it can be difficult at times to text out exactly what you are trying to say or explain; however, it is doable and with enough patience and determination you can figure it out while having it also make sense.
Not everyone is a wizard with words but if you take a look at the plagiarized text that was produced by the ChatGPT chatbot, and think about what it is saying you can also figure out a way to say it without writing exactly what it says.
It can be time-exhausting and time-consuming to create 100% original content; however, it is possible and also doable.
Sure, there are helpful paraphrasing tools such as Quillbot but your mind is also a valuable tool that can be used to figure out complicated tasks.
It will likely not be too much fun to figure it out but you can do it, focus in on what the text means and find another way to type it out while conveying the same meaning.
Writing or rather typing an essay, article, or report is usually not very fun, unless you are interested in the subject; however, it is achievable.
It is a relief that ChatGPT is not yet detectable by Turnitin, perhaps not so much for teachers/professors but your creative process is your own.
Keep in mind, that if you use both the ChatGPT chatbot and Quillbot, there should be no detectable plagiarism, which also means that Turnitin will be none the wiser.