Using various tools and their instincts, most professors will scan submissions through an AI detection tool comparing the submitted work against prior assignments to search for sudden changes in voice or quality of work. An AI detection tool will also look for patterns or clues associated with machine-generated writing, such as uniform sentence flow (i.e., repetitively structured sentences), predictable vocabulary (i.e. overuse of the same words), or a tone that feels too strong (i.e., too polished) for a first draft.
Quetext's AI Detector is a popular choice among many college professors as it scans line-by-line and provides the user with a confidence score and combines both AI detection and plagiarism checks on one report; exactly what most college instructors want! For a detailed guide regarding how classroom instructors verify their students are not using AI to develop their papers, please review this guide on the processes that educators utilize when checking for AI.