Lawsuit Filed Against Emory University for Funding and Suspending Student Over AI Tool

Emory University AI Tool Creator Suspended Over Cheating Concerns

Emory University undergrads who created the AI tool Eightball, meant to help students with coursework, have found themselves in hot water with the university. What started as a promising venture, with the students winning a pitch competition and earning a $10,000 grand prize, has now turned into a legal battle.

Benjamin Craver, one of the suspended student founders, filed a lawsuit against Emory University after the school decided to suspend him and his co-founder. The university cited concerns that Eightball “may” have been used for cheating, though Craver vehemently denies any evidence of such behavior.

The suspension has major implications for Craver, affecting his ability to graduate on time, write an honor’s thesis, and apply to law school. The university initially recommended a year-long suspension for Craver and expulsion for his co-founder, but has since reduced the discipline to a semester suspension for each.

The case raises questions about the accountability of AI tools and how to prevent them from being used for unethical purposes. With the recent resignations of AI safety research leads at OpenAI, including concerns about prioritizing AI safety, the issue of AI ethics is becoming increasingly important.

Emory University has not yet responded to requests for comment on the situation. As the legal battle unfolds, the fate of Eightball and its creators remains uncertain.