Yale Students Heavily Rely on AI Tools for Schoolwork

Fizz polls reveal widespread use of ChatGPT and other AI assistants by Yale undergrads

Mar. 12, 2026 at 3:00pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A Yale sophomore conducted a series of polls on the anonymous Fizz app, finding that 75% of Yale students reported using ChatGPT, with over a third admitting to using it to write essays. Further polling found that 88% of students were unaware of Yale's official AI guidelines, and nearly half of undergrads said they use ChatGPT. The story explores how AI is reshaping learning at Yale, with students using tools like voice transcription and ChatGPT summaries, while some professors express concerns about the impact on intellectual autonomy and academic integrity.

Why it matters

The widespread use of AI tools by Yale students highlights the rapid transformation of higher education, as emerging technologies challenge traditional learning methods and academic integrity. This story provides insight into how elite universities are grappling with the integration of AI and the implications for the future of college education.

The details

The Yale sophomore who conducted the Fizz polls found that 75% of students reported using ChatGPT, with over a third admitting to using it to write essays. Further polling found that 88% of students were unaware of Yale's official AI guidelines. Nearly half of Yale undergrads said they use ChatGPT, according to additional Fizz polls. Students described using AI tools like voice transcription and ChatGPT summaries, while some professors expressed concerns about the impact on intellectual autonomy and academic integrity.

  • In December, the Yale sophomore conducted the initial Fizz polls about ChatGPT use among classmates.
  • At the beginning of the current semester, the student polled an additional 400 students about their awareness of Yale's AI guidelines.

The players

Zachary Clifton

A Yale sophomore who conducted the Fizz polls about AI use among his classmates.

Santiago Giraldo

A Yale sophomore from Miami studying political science who uses AI tools like ChatGPT but is careful to navigate each professor's requirements.

Lishore Kumar

A Yale sophomore from Houston studying biomedical engineering and economics who runs a startup utilizing AI for medical tasks.

Gautham Ramshankar

A Yale sophomore from Fremont, California, studying biomedical engineering, who uses AI for content review and practice questions but draws the line at relying on ChatGPT to do his work.

Jasmine Rossetti

A Yale junior studying psychology and neuroscience who transferred from Gateway Community College and was surprised by the widespread use of ChatGPT to summarize readings at Yale.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I've been using AI since junior year of high school. From that point forward, literally everyone started using it.”

— Santiago Giraldo, Yale Sophomore (Fizz)

“Yale has to realize that artificial intelligence isn't a cool new device. It's an entirely new generation of technology that is changing every aspect of our life.”

— Lishore Kumar, Yale Sophomore (Fizz)

“I think relying on ChatGPT to do your work is dangerous, because you're stealing that learning opportunity from yourself.”

— Gautham Ramshankar, Yale Sophomore (Fizz)

“AI can be used for good things. But we're using it to replace learning. That's going to have real consequences.”

— Jasmine Rossetti, Yale Junior (Fizz)

“You're in school to develop thinking skills, writing skills—and I think those two things are inseparable.”

— Kim Shirkhani, Yale English Department Faculty Member (Fizz)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This story highlights the complex challenges facing elite universities like Yale as they navigate the integration of transformative AI technologies into the academic experience. While AI tools can provide convenience and efficiency, there are growing concerns about the impact on intellectual development, academic integrity, and the core purpose of higher education.