Baloyi, ErrolSiphambili, NokuthabaMahlasela, Oyena N2026-04-072026-04-072025-012581-7175DOI:10.5281/zenodo.14677369http://hdl.handle.net/10204/14780Artificial Intelligence (AI) has rapidly transformed the world, particularly following the introduction of Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer (ChatGPT) on November 30, 2022. This innovation has sparked a surge of interest in AI, leading to significant investments and attention in both the private and public sectors. AI applications are now widespread, ranging from smart farming to automated cyber threat detection. In higher education, AI has emerged as a potential game changer, enhancing learning experiences and expanding educational access to diverse communities. For example, some institutions have utilized AI to reduce dropout rates, while others have employed AI for student assistance. Research has also shown that students primarily use AI tools like ChatGPT for academic tasks, such as writing assignments and conducting research projects. In South Africa, a recent survey of educational leaders highlighted a growing push to integrate new AI tools, like ChatGPT, into the educational system. However, the use of AI has raised ethical concerns, particularly regarding plagiarism. For instance, some students at the University of South Africa (UNISA) faced disciplinary action after it was discovered that they had used AI tools inappropriately. A gap exists in the ethical use of AI in higher education, although some universities, such as the University of Cape Town (UCT), are making progress. UCT has published student guidelines on the ethical use of AI tools, which include ensuring that any final product is the student’s own work and not simply copied from an AI generator. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to evaluate free AI detection tools that can help students check their work and ensure they are not unknowingly submitting AI-generated content. This will also ensure that, if students do use AI, they properly acknowledge it, as another key clause in the UCT guidelines and similar policies requires individuals to acknowledge any use of AI in their work. Each tool was assessed based on its features, performance, usability, and support.FulltextenAI Detection ToolsGenerative AIHigher EducationChatGPTArticlen/a