Nearly every student across two Alcorn State University summer history classes failed part of their midterm after falling for an AI trap hidden in their assignment.
Dr. Jason Gibson, a history professor at the Mississippi-based Historically Black College and University, secretly embedded the word “Madagascar” in white font within an essay prompt asking students to compare the Industrial Revolution with today’s digital age. Students who copied and pasted the prompt into an AI chatbot and submitted the generated response without reviewing it unknowingly included the hidden word in their essays.
“Thirty-two of my 35 students between two classes failed a portion of their midterm because they all used AI to generate their entire response,” Gibson said in the first of three TikTok videos explaining what happened. “Apparently they didn’t proofread it.”
@iamjasongibson I can’t make this stuff up. #professor #highereducation #college #midterm
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A Lesson In AI’s Role In Higher Education
After grading the exams, Gibson explained to students why so many had lost points. He shared a screenshot showing the hidden white text embedded in the assignment and encouraged anyone who believed they had been unfairly affected to appeal.
Gibson said one of two students’ scores was adjusted after she explained that her device’s dark mode prevented the hidden text from appearing on her screen.
“I know there are professors out there that get a kick out of failing students over and over … I get no gratification out of seeing students fail,” Gibson said. “It’s not my intent to see you fail. That’s weird.”
Gibson emphasized that students could’ve easily caught the error with a quick proofread.
“You would be amazed at the bizarre usage of the word ‘Madagascar’ that I saw in these students’ assignments,” he said in the video. “If you’re going to use AI to regenerate the entire response, at least reread it. At least try to ensure that it makes a little bit of sense. Try to put it in your own words.”
Gibson’s videos have quickly spread across social media, racking up millions of views and sparking debate over AI’s role in higher education. While some TikTok users applauded his approach to catching students who relied on AI, others criticized it for unfairly punishing students.
Balancing AI Innovation And Academic Integrity
Generative AI has become a widely used tool in higher education, but many college instructors worry that the technology does not always improve students’ learning.
According to a February 2026 College Board report, nearly 74% of college faculty said students use AI to draft essays or papers, while 67% said students rely on it to reword or paraphrase existing text. Almost half of respondents estimated that at least half of their students rely on AI for writing-related assignments.
Based on responses from more than 3,000 faculty members, the survey highlights growing concerns about AI’s impact on students’ critical thinking and writing abilities.
“Faculty are navigating this critical transition, as AI rapidly expands in higher education,” said Dr. Jessica Howell, College Board’s vice president of research. “This research shows that faculty have serious concerns about AI’s impact on critical thinking, original writing, and academic integrity. Faculty, especially those in writing-intensive courses, are asking important questions about how to preserve core learning goals while preparing students for a world where AI will be part of the workplace.”
Gibson’s assignment, combined with recent research, underscores the growing need for colleges and universities to establish clearer policies and expectations around AI use in the classroom. Gibson says he is “not anti-AI,” but he is against using the technology to bypass learning.
For him, the goal is not to eliminate AI from education but to ensure it remains a tool that supports learning instead of replacing it. As Gibson put it, educators are just “trying to hold on to some level of academic integrity in the process.”
