Turnitin introduces AI writing detection for Spanish submissions

Turnitin, a leading provider of technology solutions in academic integrity, has launched its AI writing detection feature for Spanish language submissions, expanding upon its award-winning product portfolio. The new feature helps Spanish-speaking educational communities advance learning, uphold academic integrity and promote original thinking in the classroom.

The AI writing detection feature for Spanish submissions is available within Turnitin Originality. It is embedded within customers’ existing workflow, providing a seamless experience with helpful insights. Like the English version, the feature provides educators with an overall percentage of likely AI-generated content. Currently, Turnitin’s AI writing detection model is trained to detect content from the GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 language models.

“Academic integrity is at the core of Turnitin and this new feature gives Spanish-speaking educators new insights into students’ writing,” said Belén Correa, director for Turnitin LATAM. “While there is no substitute for knowing a student, their writing style and educational background, this can serve as a resource to help educators make informed determinations.”

Generative AI usage is not only prominent, it is likely going nowhere. According to Tyton Partners,* 59 percent of students surveyed said they use generative AI tools at least once a month, up from 43 percent in spring 2023. Furthermore, half of students surveyed said they would likely keep using generative AI tools even if banned, a 21 percent increase from spring 2023.

“This launch demonstrates our company’s commitment to listening to customers’ requests and addressing their needs in the classroom through continuous innovation," said Annie Chechitelli, chief product officer of Turnitin. “Customer feedback, combined with the consistent presence of generative AI writing indicated in Turnitin’s English-language model, highlighted the strong need for AI writing detection for Spanish submissions to support authenticity and academic transparency for our Spanish-speaking customers and educational partners.”

During the feature’s testing process, Universidad Privada Boliviana (UPB) was particularly excited to participate.

“As soon as we received the news that we could be a test center for the feature, UBP did not hesitate to be part of the challenge. In fact, we registered all the university's professors on the platform,” said Alberto Grájeda Chacón, dean of the virtual campus, UBP. “The use of the Turnitin AI detection feature for Spanish submissions will improve the university’s teaching and learning process, with students presenting quality work helped by AI and the teacher at the forefront of new technologies.”

Turnitin’s dedicated AI engineering team began working on a detection solution more than two years before the launch of ChatGPT and introduced its AI writing detection feature for English writing submissions within months of OpenAI’s generative AI application release. The company and the feature have also received numerous industry accolades and honorable mentions, including the 2024 SmartBrief on EdTech Readers’ Choice Awards, 2024 Bett Awards, EdTech Breakthrough Awards 2024, 2023 Tech & Learning and 2024 GSV 150.

*Turnitin was a partner in providing compensation to conduct Tyton Partners’ research and reports: Time for Class 2023, Time for Class - Fall 2023 Update, and Time for Class 2024.