Turnitin CEO Acknowledges Missteps in AI Data Use Policy, Cites University Budget Cuts for Contract Cancellations

Chris Caren, CEO of plagiarism detection company Turnitin, has admitted that the company "spooked" UK universities with a proposed end-user license agreement (EULA) suggesting student data might be used to train AI tools. He also stated that "very severe" budget constraints are a significant factor in universities, including Newcastle, Westminster, and Southampton, abandoning their contracts. Turnitin has agreed to work with a university technology organization to address concerns, and the updated EULA will not be implemented for at least a year.