Grammarly just announced that its new AI agent can “predict whether a piece of writing will receive an A.” The tool, called AI Grader, is part of a new set of agents that the company is rolling out this fall. By analyzing assignment instructions, grading rubrics, and available information about the instructor, the system estimates whether a paper would earn an A. Grammarly claims it has trained this model on millions of writing samples that included instructor feedback.
As you know, traditional writing aids check grammar, suggest edits and help with tone. Grammarly frames this as an educational aid. The company says it helps users improve their work before submission, but this feature is not just feedback – it is a forecast. If it works, AI Grader will change the psychological and pedagogical dynamics between students, teachers and their assignments.
It is unclear if students will adopt this technology at scale. If they do, AI Grader will influence how papers are written and graded. Teachers will feel the pressure. If a paper earns an A from Grammarly and something lower in the classroom, students and parents will want to know why.
It also raises a broader question: if AI can simulate a grade, what is the role of grading? If students are optimizing their work to meet an AI-generated prediction, are they learning or just training themselves to please a machine?
Grammarly is making a smart business move. Students will use this tool. Schools will be forced to respond. The bigger issue is now on the table. When AI predicts the outcome of human evaluation, it becomes part of the system it is meant to support. That is not assistance – it's influence.
As always your thoughts and comments are both welcome and encouraged. -s
About Shelly Palmer
Shelly Palmer is the Professor of Advanced Media in Residence at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and CEO of The Palmer Group, a consulting practice that helps Fortune 500 companies with technology, media and marketing. Named LinkedIn’s “Top Voice in Technology,” he covers tech and business for Good Day New York, is a regular commentator on CNN and writes a popular daily business blog. He's a bestselling author, and the creator of the popular, free online course, Generative AI for Execs. Follow @shellypalmer or visit shellypalmer.com.
