IIM Ahmedabad student writes project using ChatGPT, scores A+: Sparks debate on AI, effort and what ‘real learning' means today
When
Yugantar Gupta
, an MBA student at
IIM Ahmedabad
, took to LinkedIn to share how he aced a
marketing project
using
ChatGPT
, he probably didn't expect his post to ignite a philosophical debate on education, effort, and ethics. But the post, which detailed how Gupta earned an A+ grade for a report generated largely by AI, has done just that—prompting applause, scepticism, and a deeper reckoning with what learning truly means in the age of
artificial intelligence
.
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Gupta's now-viral story begins with a confession: 'I wrote my entire project using ChatGPT. It got an A+.' At an institution where top grades are scarce and usually awarded to the crème de la crème, his admission raised more than a few eyebrows.
A+ Without the All-Nighter
Unlike his peers slogging through late-night group meetings, Gupta decided to take a different route for his assignment on the cosmetics market. Armed with curiosity and a smartphone, he visited eight retail stores, posed as a customer shopping for a gift, and meticulously recorded every shopper interaction and sales pitch he witnessed. These raw field notes, dictated as voice memos, were then transcribed and handed over to ChatGPT.
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The AI took the reins, and soon, a polished, articulate marketing report emerged—one that impressed the faculty enough to award him one of the highest possible grades.
What made the story even more compelling was Gupta's candour. 'I hadn't even spent that much time on this,' he admitted. 'It felt almost wrong to get a medal for something I didn't labour over the traditional way.'
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AI in the Classroom: Taboo or Tool?
The twist? At IIM Ahmedabad, AI tools like ChatGPT are not forbidden. In fact, they're accepted as part of the learning process. Gupta recalled his surprise when
Turnitin
, a tool commonly used to flag plagiarism and AI-generated content, gave a full AI usage report—but no red flags were raised.
Instead, a professor gave him a powerful reality check: 'No one is going to pay you anymore for researching or writing reports from the internet. ChatGPT already does that better, faster, and for free.'
According to faculty, the true differentiator now lies in what AI can't replicate—first-hand observations, real conversations, surveys, and original insights. In short, it's not about resisting the tool, but knowing how to wield it wisely.
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'Get Out of the Building'
Gupta's final takeaway echoed a quote by startup mentor Steve Blank: 'Get out of the building.' It was his way of reminding fellow students that real value is born not from prompts and polish, but from getting their hands dirty in the real world. His advice? Spend less time perfecting prose and more time talking to people, learning from professionals, and collecting knowledge AI can't generate.
His post included three pieces of advice for students navigating this new world:
Don't waste time writing—spend it reviewing AI outputs.
Don't 'humanise' AI content—talk to real humans instead.
Don't stay in echo chambers—reach out, connect, and learn from outside.
Internet Reacts: Cheers and Concerns
Social media erupted with mixed reactions. Some applauded Gupta for his honest, experience-based approach. 'AI can accelerate the process, but human curiosity, initiative, and outreach are irreplaceable,' one user wrote.
Others raised concerns about the implications. 'You missed the joy of writing the report, but wrote this post,' a commenter noted. Another questioned the boundaries of
academic evaluation
in the AI era: 'The professor had no choice. How can he prevent AI in the evaluation process?'
Gupta responded that detection tools like Turnitin were effective and could easily highlight AI-generated content. His report, though written by ChatGPT, was built on a foundation of original research—a nuance he believes sets the right precedent.
The Bigger Question
Gupta's viral post has opened a broader conversation about the evolving role of education in a world where AI can draft, design, and deliver content at lightning speed. It also leaves institutions and educators with a pressing question: If AI is permitted, what exactly counts as original work? And more importantly, how do we teach students to think—not just prompt?
As Gupta's experience shows, perhaps the answer lies not in banning the tools, but in redefining what effort, insight, and originality truly mean in an AI-assisted world.
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