Former Chancellor Terrence Chen submitted a 2,000-page report on how to improve Connecticut State University. NBC Connecticut used two AI tools, ChatGPT and GPT Zero, to conclude that at least 80 percent of its reports were generated by AI.
Mr. Chen prepared the report as a special advisor to the system. The board declined to renew his contract in April 2025, giving him an interim role. The advisory position, which comes with a full annual salary of $442,000, ends at the end of this month. The report made recommendations, including a renewed focus on workforce development.
Sam Norton, a spokesperson for the system, told NBC Connecticut that Chen acknowledged using AI during the research process.
“In his report, Mr. Chen is transparent about the use of artificial intelligence as a tool to aggregate and synthesize large amounts of data, generate individual analyzes for all 50 states, and assist in copy-editing large documents,” Mr. Norton said in a statement. “As with any tool, Mr. Chen was responsible for verifying the underlying research and content.”
Mr. Chen’s tenure was a turbulent period marked by a contentious integration process and national budget challenges. Mr. Chen also came under fire for reports that he had splurged on meals and chauffeured transportation to his New York home, for which he later apologized. In response to this criticism, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont called for a state audit in 2024.
