An academic at the Australian National University has publicly accused the institution of a "hysterical" response to student use of artificial intelligence, as universities across Australia rush to overhaul assessments in an effort to preserve academic integrity. The dispute comes amid warnings from colleagues that failing to restore rigour in education risks shifting the country's intellectual capability overseas to AI firms based in California and China.

ANU has circulated a consultation paper proposing three options, including labelling assessments as "secure" (free from AI cheating risk) or "insecure", or requiring students to declare where AI was used. One academic welcomed the move but described the sector-wide response as "panicked" and under-resourced, while another said consultation had been inadequate and could reverse progress on inclusive assessment for students with disabilities or caring duties, calling it a "reactionary" and "hysterical" reaction taken with little notice before semester two begins. ANU said only interim guidance had been issued, that no changes were finalised, and that fuller consultation involving students, staff and accessibility experts would begin in August; separately, the 2025 Australian Digital Inclusion Index found 78.9% of secondary and tertiary students were already using generative AI.