When is AI okay
on your assignment?
A clear, simple framework for high school students and teachers — no guessing, no grey areas.
Green light — AI is okay
- Brainstorming topics or ideas
- Understanding a concept
- Checking grammar or spelling
- Background research
- Rephrasing a confusing question
Red light — no AI
- Writing your essay or story
- Forming your argument or thesis
- Doing the math for you
- Creating your lab conclusions
- Generating art to submit
01
Browse Examples
See real assignment types across every subject, each labeled red or green with a clear reason.
02
Quiz Yourself
Test your judgment on 10 real scenarios. See instant feedback with explanations.
01 / Browse
Assignment examples
Real assignment types across every subject area — each labeled red or green with an explanation.
02 / Quiz
Quiz yourself
10 real assignment scenarios. Red light or green light — you decide. Instant feedback with every answer.
03 / About
About the framework
Where the red/green approach comes from, and the thinking behind each signal.
The idea
Why a stoplight?
The traffic light model is a widely adopted framework for AI use in schools. It replaces vague rules with a clear, visual signal: green means AI supports your learning, red means AI would replace it.
The core principle
AI as a tool, not a ghostwriter
AI is green when it helps you think, learn, or explore. It's red when it does the thinking for you — producing work you submit as your own but didn't actually do.
Green light — when AI is okay
Brainstorming. Using AI to generate a list of possible ideas, topics, or angles before you decide what to write about.
Learning a concept. Asking AI to explain something you don't understand — like a math concept or historical event — in a different way.
Grammar and spelling. Running finished writing through a grammar or spell checker. Cleaning up errors is not the same as writing for you.
Background research. Using AI to gather facts, timelines, or context before you write your own analysis or argument.
Clarifying a question. If you don't understand what a problem is asking (not how to solve it), asking AI to rephrase it is fine.
Red light — no AI
Writing your assignment. If AI writes your essay, story, analysis, or argument, you are submitting work that isn't yours.
Doing the math. Having AI solve math problems for you skips the practice that builds the skills your teacher is assessing.
Generating your conclusions. Lab reports and essays that require your reasoning cannot be outsourced — the thinking is the assignment.
Creative work to submit. AI-generated art, music, or fiction submitted as your own misrepresents your creative ability.
Personal writing. Personal essays, reflections, and narratives require your authentic voice and experience — AI cannot provide those.
Framework based on the Red Light / Green Light approach developed by educators and adopted by school districts including NYC Public Schools. Built for high school students and their teachers.