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Brown University Professor Catches Widespread AI Cheating After Scores Collapse

PBD Podcast · Lindsey Graham's Death, New Iran Strikes & Mamdani's Map Controversy | PBD Podcast #831 · July 13, 2026
Brown University Professor Catches Widespread AI Cheating After Scores Collapse
PBD Podcast
PBD Podcast
Lindsey Graham's Death, New Iran Strikes & Mamdani's Map Controversy | PBD Podcast #831
"Brown University professor Roberto Serrano saw scores collapse between a take-home midterm and an in-person final, leading him to suspect widespread AI-assisted cheating. Some students fell from perfect midterm scores to below 20% on the final. The midterm was administered at home after a school shooter killed 2 students in December. The problem with this technology is that the cost of cheating has basically gone down to zero. It's very easy for students to succumb to the temptation. After Serrano announced that the final would be held in person, many previously high-score students dropped the course."
A Brown University economics professor exposed massive AI-assisted cheating when students who scored in the high 90s on take-home midterms plummeted to the 50s or lower on in-person finals, with some perfect scorers falling below 20%. Many students dropped the course entirely once they learned the final would be administered in person. The revelation comes as University of Chicago Law School banned all devices from first-year classes to combat AI reliance.

About this episode

The PBD Podcast delivers a wide-ranging analysis of breaking news and cultural developments, hosted by Patrick Bet-David with co-hosts Adam Sosnick, Tom Ellsworth, and Vincent Oshana. The episode leads with the sudden death of Senator Lindsey Graham at 71, hours after returning from his tenth trip to Kiev, Ukraine and speaking with President Trump. Graham's passing triggered both tributes and celebrations, with Iranian state media and progressive figures like Margaret Cho posting inflammatory comments. The hosts examined Graham's complicated legacy, particularly his passionate defense of Brett Kavanaugh during Supreme Court hearings. International tensions dominate coverage as Iran launched retaliatory missile strikes across five Middle Eastern countries after U.S. forces bombed 140 Iranian targets following attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Secretary of State Marco Rubio deported a convicted child rapist pardoned by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, directly challenging state-level immigration interference. NYC Mayor Mamdani's scheduled meeting with Iran's UN ambassador was blocked by the State Department, raising concerns about unauthorized municipal foreign policy. A Brown University professor exposed widespread AI-assisted cheating when students who scored in the high 90s on take-home exams plummeted to the 50s on in-person tests, prompting University of Chicago Law School to ban all devices from classrooms. The episode covers World Cup semifinal tensions as England coach Thomas Tuchel publicly criticized his team despite defeating Norway, triggering a sharp response from star Jude Bellingham. CNBC faced criticism for ranking Texas and Tennessee among America's worst states despite both leading the nation in positive migration. UFC star Conor McGregor suffered a catastrophic leg injury seconds into his return fight and delivered an explicit Christian testimony in post-fight interviews. The hosts examine leadership development strategies used by Chipotle's CEO and critique Gavin Newsom's claims about California's role in Elon Musk's success.

Key takeaways

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