The rules side by side
The table summarises the platform-wide rules. A course or assignment can explicitly permit AI use, and degree programs on Coursera follow the university's rules, so always read the assignment instructions too.
| Platform | What it says about AI | Own work and sharing | Listed consequences | Policy date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coursera | Using unauthorized materials, including generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, is a violation unless expressly permitted; plagiarism includes work paraphrased, translated or modified by automated means; you must verify AI outputs you use | Submissions must be original and done independently; sharing assessment solutions, contract cheating and impersonation are prohibited | Sanctions based on type, severity, stakes and history; no refunds for corrective action; access can be suspended or terminated; degree programs at the provider's discretion | Terms effective January 1, 2026 |
| edX | The Honor Code does not mention AI tools | Complete tests and assignments on your own unless collaboration is permitted; do not post answers; one account | Zero or no credit, certificate withheld or revoked, unenrollment, termination of site use; no refunds | Honor Code effective October 28, 2019; Terms updated November 3, 2025 |
| Alison | Terms do not address AI tools in courses or assessments; bots, scripts, automated tools or artificial methods used to generate course progress are banned, with permanent account suspension | Only the registered account holder may complete courses and assessments; completing them for someone else is prohibited | Permanent suspension and certificate revocation without refund for sharing or completing for others; immediate suspension for deliberate violations | No date shown on the terms page |
| CompTIA (exam) | Using any AI software in any way during the exam, or to generate or recreate exam content, is prohibited | No sharing exam content, including reconstructing questions from memory; report exposure to brain dumps | Revocation of the certification and of all other CompTIA certifications, at least six months' exam ineligibility, no refund; using unauthorized materials brings a ban of at least 12 months and loss of certification | Candidate Agreement version 2026.07.24 |
Coursera in more detail
Coursera's Honor Code defines academic misconduct as anything that circumvents the learning experience or misrepresents who did the work and under what conditions, and it explicitly covers exams, quizzes, peer reviews, discussion posts, guided projects and labs, including related activity outside the platform. Discussing assessments with classmates or tutors is allowed, but the submission must be your own independent work.
Coursera's Privacy Notice (last updated October 14, 2026) lists an AI Integrity Check and course proctoring among its assessment features. We could not find a public description of how the integrity check works, so do not assume AI-written work will go unnoticed or that your work will be flagged unfairly; either way, the Honor Code is the rule that applies.
Certification exams are stricter than courses
For proctored certification exams the line is absolute. CompTIA's Candidate Agreement prohibits AI use in any way during the exam and using AI to recreate exam content. Its online-proctored guidelines require a single display, no phones or wearables within arm's reach, no notes and nobody else present, and warn that failing to follow them can lead to a revoked exam, invalidated results and a possible permanent ban from future CompTIA exams.
CompTIA's Unauthorized Training Materials policy defines unauthorized training materials as any source, including a chat session, that contains certification exam content, and says a candidate who memorises such content to pass will be banned for at least 12 months and lose certification even without fraudulent intent. The same page says CompTIA does not authorize or condone using AI to generate study questions, practice exams or exam-related content, and that AI output containing exam material may be treated as cheating regardless of intent.
Allowed and not-allowed checklist
This checklist reflects the platform-wide wording above. Where it says usually, the assignment's own instructions decide.
| Use of an AI tool | Coursera course | edX course | Alison course | CompTIA exam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Explaining a concept while studying, outside any assessment | Usually fine; verify the output | Not addressed; own-work rule applies to assessments | Not addressed | Not addressed for general study; never during the exam |
| Quizzing yourself on course material | Usually fine | Usually fine | Usually fine | CompTIA says it does not authorize or condone AI-generated study questions or practice exams |
| Writing or rewriting a graded submission | Not allowed unless expressly permitted | Conflicts with the pledge to complete assignments on your own | Only the account holder may complete assessments | Prohibited |
| Translating or paraphrasing someone else's work | Counts as plagiarism | Conflicts with own-work pledge | Not addressed directly | Prohibited |
| Posting answers or AI-generated solutions publicly | Prohibited unless the assessment permits sharing | Prohibited | Not addressed directly | Prohibited; also covers reconstructing questions |
| Using AI to grade or review a peer's work for you | Peer reviews are covered by the Honor Code | Not addressed | Not applicable | Not applicable |
Practical rules that keep you safe
- Read the assignment brief first; an explicit permission or ban there overrides general habits.
- Keep AI on the study side: explanations, practice questions, feedback on ungraded drafts.
- If you used AI where it was permitted, say how, and check every fact it produced.
- Never paste an exam or quiz question into a chatbot during an attempt.
- For certification prep, use official practice material; avoid anything claiming to be real exam questions, and do not ask a chatbot to generate CompTIA practice exams.
- Remember the cost: Coursera and edX say no refunds are issued after corrective action, and CompTIA says a sanctioned candidate may not receive a refund.
Questions before you decide
Does Coursera allow ChatGPT on assignments?
Not by default. Coursera's Honor Code lists using unauthorized materials, including generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, as a violation unless the course expressly permits it. Plagiarism also includes work paraphrased or translated by automated means.
What happens if you break the Coursera honor code?
Coursera says sanctions depend on the type and severity of misconduct, the stakes of the assessment and any prior history, that no refunds are issued for corrective action, and that access can be suspended or terminated. Degree programs set their own consequences.
Can I use AI during a CompTIA exam?
No. CompTIA's Candidate Agreement prohibits using any AI software in any way during the exam and using AI to recreate exam content. Sanctions include revoking certifications and at least six months of exam ineligibility, with no refund.
Sources & verification
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- Coursera Terms of Use, including the Honor Code (effective January 1, 2026) Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Coursera Privacy Notice, How We Use AI (last updated October 14, 2026) Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- edX Terms of Service and Honor Code Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Alison: Terms of Use Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- CompTIA Candidate Agreement (version 2026.07.24) Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- CompTIA: Unauthorized Training Materials policy Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- CompTIA: Online-Proctored Exam Guidelines Accessed 30 Oct 2026
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