From Cheating to Learning: AI Integration in Introductory Economics

This paper addresses two AI-driven challenges for educational integrity and course design: academic dishonesty and the need for curriculum development.As students adopt AI faster than institutions can verify authenticity, instructors must also undertake labor-intensive revisions to integrate AI ethically and align assignments with learning goals.We propose a general framework for designing ChatGPT-integrated, economics-model-focused assignments and provide two adaptable, ready-to-use assignments for principles of microeconomics and macroeconomics.These activities position ChatGPT as a complement to learning and cover core introductory topics.We conclude with preliminary survey evidence on students' reported AI use and enjoyment.