My College Professor Used AI to Grade My Papers. Here's What I Learned.

When James Rodriguez, a 21-year-old junior at the University of Texas, submitted his final paper for American History in December 2025, he expected his professor to grade it. Instead, an AI algorithm did it. "I was shocked," James told YEET Magazine. "I had worked really hard on that paper. I wanted a human to read it."

James's professor, Dr. Karen Lee, had been using an AI grading tool called "Gradable" for two semesters. The tool analyzes student papers, checks for grammar, coherence, and argumentation, and assigns a grade. Dr. Lee said the tool saved her hours of grading time and allowed her to focus on teaching.

"I understand why professors use it," James said. "But it felt impersonal. I wanted feedback from a human who actually understood what I was trying to say."

James isn't alone. Across American universities, AI is being used to grade papers, create lesson plans, and even tutor students. Generation Beta is being raised by AI, and today's college students are the first to experience AI-assisted learning at scale.

Some students have embraced the change. "I actually prefer AI grading," said one student. "It's more objective. It doesn't have biases." Others, like James, have expressed frustration.

"The AI gave me a B+," James said. "I felt like I deserved an A. When I talked to Dr. Lee, she agreed with me and changed my grade to an A. But that made me wonder: what about all the students who didn't go to talk to her? What about the students whose grades stayed wrong?"

James has since become an advocate for human oversight in AI grading. He started a petition calling for transparency and appeal processes for AI-graded assignments. The petition has over 2,000 signatures.

"AI can be a useful tool, but it shouldn't replace human judgment," James said. "Education is about human connection. That's something AI can't replicate."

What You'll Learn in This Article

• A real story of AI grading in college
• How AI is being used in higher education
• The benefits and drawbacks of AI grading
• What students think about AI in the classroom
• What the future of education looks like

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