IIT Bombay student found dead in hostel after ChatGPT use in exam flagged

A second-year student of the Energy Science and Engineering department at IIT Bombay's Powai campus was found dead in his hostel room on Friday, September 18, the institute said. It said the student had used his mobile phone during an examination to upload the question paper to ChatGPT. The incident was followed by a protest by students on campus.

According to the institute, the student was found with a mobile phone while the exam was underway. It said he had tried to upload the question paper to ChatGPT to obtain answers. Following this, an instructor and the department head spoke to him.

The institute said no disciplinary action was taken against the student immediately. It clarified that he was counselled and told that the incident would not affect his academic career.

The student returned to his hostel room after the exam ended and was found dead in his room in the evening. Concerned agencies began an investigation as soon as they were informed. The institute said officials are investigating the actual circumstances of the death. Various claims and discussions are doing the rounds on campus regarding the death, but the cause has not yet been finally determined, so the findings of the police and other agencies investigating the matter should be given weight.

As news of the incident spread on campus, students staged a protest against the administration. More than 400 students reportedly took part in the protest. They demanded full information about the circumstances of the incident and an explanation from the administration. Some students also demanded that the administration pay greater attention to issues related to students' mental health. The allegations made by students during the protest are their own claims and are yet to be independently verified.

The incident also affected the mid-semester examinations underway at IIT Bombay, which were postponed following the student protest. The institute said necessary support would be provided to the deceased student's friends, classmates, professors and others affected by the incident.

IIT Bombay expressed grief over the student's death. According to the institute's statement, the student was counselled and spoken to after the examination incident, and no disciplinary action had been initiated against him. It said the circumstances of the death are being investigated by the concerned authorities. The incident has revived debate around the use of AI and ChatGPT in examinations, academic pressure on students, and mental health support on campus, though the outcome of the official investigation is needed before the death can be attributed to any single cause.