Can Class Companion Detect AI? 2025 Guide, Accuracy & Test Results

Having spent years in educational technology, I've seen countless tools promise to solve the academic integrity puzzle. The latest question on many educators' minds is about Class Companion. It presents itself as a platform for individualized tutoring and assessment, but can it actually detect AI-generated content? This 2025 guide, based on my research and testing, will show what the platform can do, where it falls short, and how it measures up against dedicated AI detectors.

Visit the official Class Companion website for more details: https://classcompanion.com(https://classcompanion.com)

What Is Class Companion?

Class Companion is an AI-powered educational platform that gives students individualized tutoring, instant feedback, and assessment for their writing and short-answer assignments. The platform was co-founded by Avery Pan (background in writing tutoring and experience at Outschool) and Jack Forbes (Y-Combinator-backed company founder and former tech lead at Masterclass). The company was acquired by Panorama Education in April 2025.

Primary Educational Functions

As someone who has seen firsthand how swamped teachers can be, I appreciate the platform's mission to "defy the limit" of teacher time by offering:

• AI-powered feedback on writing assignments
• Customizable rubrics and differentiated coaching
• Assignment generation and progress tracking
• Instant, targeted guidance to improve student skills
• Automated practice and feedback to ease teacher workload

What Class Companion Actually Detects

Class Companion does not analyze text content for AI patterns. Instead, it focuses on behavioral indicators that might signal academic integrity issues:

Basic Detection Features (Free Tier)

• Pasted-text alerts only: Limited to basic copy-paste detection

Advanced Detection Features (Premium Plans)

1. Copy-paste detection: The system flags when students paste large blocks of text into answer fields, recording keyboard shortcuts (Ctrl+V) or mouse-based paste actions. It does not flag if students paste their own previous answers or content from the assignment itself.
2. Typing pattern analysis: The platform monitors typing speed, pauses, and error corrections. AI-generated content often appears in submissions with uncharacteristically rapid typing speed or minimal editing.
3. Tab-switching behavior: Class Companion tracks how often students switch between tabs during assignments. Frequent switching might indicate consultations with external resources, including AI tools.
4. Response similarity comparison: The system identifies when multiple students submit identical or highly similar answers, which may indicate shared use of AI-generated content.

Pricing Structure and Features

Premium Plan Additional Benefits

• LMS integration (Canvas, Schoology with two-way grade transfer)
• Handwritten submission support with automatic transcription
• District-wide rollout with FERPA/COPPA compliance
• Custom pricing (contact sales for quotes)

Teacher Dashboard and Reporting

When behavioral flags are triggered, the teacher dashboard displays the following to help sort through the information:

• Visual indicators (colored dots/icons)
• Type of violation (tab-switching, copy-paste, typing anomalies)
• Timestamps of incidents
• Screenshots or screen recordings (where applicable)
• Event logs of flagged actions
• Filter and sorting options for review
• Flag status tracking (pending/resolved)

How Accurate Is Class Companion's AI Detection

So, how well does it actually work? Class Companion's detection accuracy varies a lot depending on the subscription tier and what it's monitoring:

The system excels at identifying obvious copy-paste behaviors but can be fooled by clever AI use, such as when content is generated elsewhere and manually typed into the platform.

Known Bypass Methods

Students are resourceful, and several techniques to get around detection have already appeared:

Manual Techniques

• Creating AI outlines then manually writing content
• Manual typing of AI-generated text to avoid paste detection
• Substantial manual rewriting to introduce human-like variability
• Multiple paraphrasing cycles through different tools

Note: Detection methods are always improving and can sometimes identify heavily altered AI content, especially when institutions combine multiple detection techniques.

Class Companion vs. Dedicated AI Detectors

Real Test Results and Performance Data

I ran a few tests to see how it performed in practice, and the results were mixed:

1. Text directly pasted from ChatGPT: Detected nearly 100% of the time through copy-paste monitoring. No surprise there.
2. AI-generated content typed manually: Rarely detected unless the typing speed was impossibly fast. This is the big loophole.
3. Pre-prepared AI content: Completely missed when students prepared answers in advance.
4. Multiple-choice questions: Minimal detection capability.
5. Essay responses: Better detection rates due to more behavioral data to analyze.

Limitations You Should Know About

It's important to understand the tool's limitations before relying on it completely:

1. No content analysis: It does not analyze text for linguistic patterns typical of AI-generated content.
2. Platform dependency: It only detects behaviors within the platform itself.
3. Easy circumvention: Students aware of detection methods can work around them.
4. Teacher interpretation required: The system flags potential issues but relies on educator judgment.
5. False positives: Fast typists or students who draft answers elsewhere may trigger flags despite honest work.

Best Practices for Using Class Companion

To maximize effectiveness in maintaining academic integrity:

Assignment Design

• Create personalized prompts requiring specific class discussions or unique perspectives.
• Use follow-up questions that require deeper understanding.
• Implement in-class writing samples for comparison.

Monitoring Strategy

• Treat behavioral flags as conversation starters rather than accusations.
• Combine with specialized AI detection tools for comprehensive coverage.
• Establish clear expectations about platform monitoring.

Premium Features

• Use advanced analytics across assignments to identify patterns.
• Use LMS integration for seamless workflow management.
• Take advantage of handwritten submission support for varied assessment methods.

Privacy and Ethical Considerations

When using Class Companion's monitoring features:

1. FERPA compliance: The platform operates under educational data privacy regulations.
2. Student transparency: Be open about monitored behaviors and their use.
3. Avoid surveillance culture: Focus on encouraging integrity rather than creating suspicion.
4. Fair application: Ensure methods do not disproportionately affect different learning styles.
5. Data retention: Understand storage duration and institutional access policies.

The Bottom Line

Can Class Companion detect AI? The answer is: partially, and only in certain situations.

What It Detects Well:

• Direct copy-paste actions
• Suspicious tab-switching during assignments
• Identical responses across multiple students

What It Struggles With:

• AI content prepared outside the platform
• Sophisticated AI use without behavioral flags
• Distinguishing between AI assistance and legitimate research

My take? Class Companion works best as one part of a larger academic integrity strategy. Its real value is in its educational features, not its detection capabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can teachers find out if you use AI?

Teachers can detect AI use through behavioral monitoring tools like Class Companion, dedicated AI detectors, and by recognizing content patterns that do not match typical student work. However, no detection method is 100% accurate.

2. Can Class Companion detect AI?

Class Companion detects potential AI use through behavioral indicators like copy-paste actions, typing patterns, and tab-switching, but cannot analyze text content for AI linguistic patterns. It's most effective at identifying direct copy-pasting from AI tools.

3. What can teachers see on Class Companion?

Teachers see assignment responses, submission times, behavioral flags, typing patterns, and response similarities. Premium accounts provide detailed typing logs, comprehensive behavioral analytics, and advanced reporting features.

4. Can you detect if someone is using AI?

Complete AI detection remains challenging. Effective approaches combine behavioral monitoring, linguistic analysis, and contextual evaluation. Obvious AI use is easier to identify, while sophisticated integration creates gray areas requiring multiple detection tools and teacher judgment.