Can ChatGPT Code Be Detected : How To Detect A.I Code?5 min read

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Can ChatGPT-generated code be detected, and if so, how? and what are the steps you can take to avoid the code detection… Lets look into the challenges of identifying Chat GPT-generated code, explore methods for detection, and discuss strategies to mitigate the misuse of this technology.

It Isn’t Easy To Detect ChatGPT Generated Code

ChatGPT is designed to generate human-like text, making it difficult for conventional detection methods to differentiate between AI-generated code and code written by humans. It has the ability to mimic various coding styles and patterns, making it challenging for even experienced programmers to distinguish its origin accurately.

ChatGPT-Generated Code vs Human-Written Code

Let’s consider two code snippets, one written by a human and the other generated by ChatGPT, to illustrate the complexity of detecting AI-generated code:

1. Human-Written Code (Python):

def calculate_factorial(n):
    if n == 0:
        return 1
    else:
        return n * calculate_factorial(n-1)

2. ChatGPT-Generated Code (Python):

def calc_factorial(n):
    if n < 2:
        return 1
    fact = 1
    for i in range(2, n+1):
        fact *= i
    return fact

✅ In the examples above, both code snippets calculate the factorial of a given integer 'n,' but they do so in slightly different ways. The ChatGPT-generated code demonstrates that the model can produce functional and plausible code, similar to what a human programmer might write.

Challenges in Detecting GPT-Generated Code

Code Generated Using ChatGPT isn’t easy at all because of the following reasons :

1. Syntax Similarity: ChatGPT generates code with syntax and style similar to human-written code, making it challenging to identify distinctive patterns.
2. Feature Extraction: Traditional detection methods often rely on specific features present in human-written code. However, ChatGPT-generated code lacks such unique features, making detection difficult.
3. Adversarial Attacks: Adversarial examples can be crafted to bypass detection mechanisms, fooling the system into accepting AI-generated code as authentic.

Detection Strategies To Detect Code

While detecting AI-generated code is a challenging task, researchers and developers are actively looking into various methods to address this issue, following methods can be used to detect an AI generated Code:

1. Language Model Discrepancy: By training detection models on different language models than those used for code generation, discrepancies can be identified in the syntax and semantics.
2. Pattern Recognition: Advanced machine learning techniques can be employed to analyze patterns in the code, identifying peculiarities that distinguish AI-generated code from human-written code.
3. Metadata Analysis: Examining metadata, such as authorship information or traces left during the code generation process, may help identify AI-generated content.
4. Model Fine-Tuning Detection: Train a specialized model to detect when language models like ChatGPT have been fine-tuned on code-related tasks. Fine-tuning might lead to code generation that exhibits specific patterns indicative of AI involvement.
5. Contextual Inconsistency Detection: AI-generated code might struggle to maintain a coherent context throughout the codebase. Detecting abrupt topic shifts or unnatural transitions between code segments can be a potential indicator of AI generation.
6. Syntax and Semantic Inconsistencies: Focus on identifying inconsistencies in the syntax and semantics of the code. AI-generated code might demonstrate subtle deviations from human-written code patterns or misuse certain language constructs.

How To Avoid Detection?

There are a few ways that ensures AI-generated code to be more similar to a Human-Written Code, developers and programmers can take the following precautions to avoid detection:

1. Clearly Indicating AI Involvement: First, It’s just wholesome to be honest sometimes, So.. when using ChatGPT-generated code in projects or publications, make it explicitly clear that the code has been generated by an AI model.
2. Blend with Human-Written Code: Integrate AI-generated code within larger codebases that contain human-written code. By blending AI-generated snippets with legitimate code, detection becomes more challenging, as the AI-generated content gets camouflaged.
3. Add Code Variability: Introduce variations in the coding style, variable names, and commenting conventions. Avoid using uniform patterns, as consistency across AI-generated code can make it easier to detect.
4. Incorporate Noise: Introduce random or irrelevant lines of code to obfuscate AI-generated portions. The inclusion of unnecessary statements can help conceal the underlying AI-generated content.
5. Code Length and Complexity: Avoid generating extensive or highly complex code, as such code can arouse suspicion. Keeping code snippets concise and straightforward makes it less conspicuous.
6. Avoid Common AI Phrases: AI models like ChatGPT may produce signature phrases or keywords. By avoiding using these commonly produced phrases, you can make the code appear more human-like.
7. Introduce Human Errors: Include minor mistakes or typos in the code. Humans often make small errors while coding, and the presence of such errors can create the illusion of human authorship.
8. Manually Edit the Output: After generating code using AI, manually edit the content to enhance human-like characteristics. This process involves refining the code structure, fixing any peculiarities, and ensuring it adheres to human coding conventions

Example Prompt

While generating code using ChatGPT or any other A.I Code Generator.. Try tweaking the prompt that you write, add more details to the prompt and some pointers given in the example prompt below.

🐦‍🔥 "Can you help me write a Python function that calculates the factorial of a given positive integer? I want the code to be easy to read and understand, with proper indentation and descriptive variable names. Additionally, I'd like to include comments to explain each step of the calculation process. Looking forward to your assistance!"

Final Words!

The question of whether ChatGPT or AI Generated code can be detected is a complex and growing topic. While detection methods are continually improving, the ability of ChatGPT to mimic human code poses significant challenges.