{"version":1,"type":"story","url":"https://digestai.news/story/uc-berkeley-professor-stops-grading-homework-after-ai-yields-top-score","json":"https://digestai.news/story/uc-berkeley-professor-stops-grading-homework-after-ai-yields-top-score.json","markdown":"https://digestai.news/story/uc-berkeley-professor-stops-grading-homework-after-ai-yields-top-score.md","slug":"uc-berkeley-professor-stops-grading-homework-after-ai-yields-top-score","headline":"UC Berkeley professor stops grading homework after AI yields top scores","summary":"Richard Borcherds, a UC Berkeley professor and Fields medalist, says he no longer grades his students’ homework because many use AI to earn top scores. He told a Tuesday interview that grading for correctness feels pointless now that AI tools can consistently achieve perfect results. Borcherds linked his decision to OpenAI’s recent claim that its agents solved the Navier‑Stokes existence and smoothness problem, noting that if AI keeps improving at the current pace, “there’ll be nothing human mathematicians can do that AI can’t do better.”\n\nHe now grades only on completion and admits the system is “not a very good system,” but sees no viable alternative. Borcherds also expressed uncertainty about advising students to pursue mathematics, recalling that five years ago the field seemed safe from AI disruption. The university’s Academic Senate is urging faculty to add AI‑use statements to syllabi, though policies vary by course and existing detection tools like Turnitin and Rumi have proven inadequate.\n\nAssistant vice provost Anne Marie Richard said the AI Hub provides sample statements for faculty, but final policy decisions remain at the instructor’s discretion.","keyPoints":["UC Berkeley professor Richard Borcherds stopped grading for correctness after AI gave students top scores","OpenAI announced agents solved the Navier‑Stokes existence and smoothness problem, prompting concerns about AI surpassing human mathematicians","UC Berkeley’s Academic Senate urges AI‑use statements in syllabi, but detection tools like Turnitin and Rumi are deemed insufficient"],"whyItMatters":"The shift shows AI reshaping higher‑education assessment, forcing institutions to rethink grading practices and policy frameworks as AI capabilities outpace traditional evaluation methods.","category":{"slug":"policy","name":"Policy & Regulation","url":"https://digestai.news/category/policy"},"entities":{"companies":["OpenAI","Turnitin","Rumi"],"models":["ChatGPT"],"people":["Richard Borcherds","Anne Marie Richard"]},"firstPublishedAt":"2026-10-25T16:28:26Z","updatedAt":"2026-10-25T16:28:26Z","sourceCount":1,"hasPrimarySource":false,"sources":[{"outlet":"dailycal.org","title":"AI use leads UC Berkeley math professor to see 'no point' in grading homework","url":"https://dailycal.org/news/campus/academics/ai-use-leads-uc-berkeley-math-professor-to-see-no-point-in-grading-homework/article_bdf1eae2-c08b-491f-b9f1-81a7cea177de.html","publishedAt":"2026-10-25T16:28:26Z","type":"press","primary":false,"lead":true}],"sourceNotes":null,"discussions":[{"site":"Hacker News","url":"https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50233304","points":45}],"thread":null,"cite":{"text":"Digest AI, \"UC Berkeley professor stops grading homework after AI yields top scores\", 25 October 2026, https://digestai.news/story/uc-berkeley-professor-stops-grading-homework-after-ai-yields-top-score","publisher":"Digest AI","title":"UC Berkeley professor stops grading homework after AI yields top scores","datePublished":"2026-10-25T16:28:26Z","url":"https://digestai.news/story/uc-berkeley-professor-stops-grading-homework-after-ai-yields-top-score"},"generatedBy":"Written by Digest AI's editorial model from the linked sources; the sources are the record.","license":"Headlines, digests and key points are written by Digest AI and may be quoted with a link to the story page. Linked articles belong to their publishers. Terms: https://digestai.news/terms#reuse"}