It’s never been easier for students to cheat their way through school. In 2025, OpenAI, along with virtually every other Generative AI (GenAI) chat bot, added the ability for users to directly upload files for “analysis.” In mere seconds, these tools can spit out walls of text with few “hallucinations,” as they are no longer reliant on unreliable public databases. If you assign any sort of readings in your classes, chances are your students are using this to write their papers for them, without ever even needing to open the files!
We believe that it is possible to teach valuable critical reading, thinking, and writing skills in the digital classroom. With that in mind, we created Project Zarape, a proof-of-concept tool that dissuades students from just dumping books, articles, and other written assignment files into the newest generation of GenAI.
Project Zarape features two components: a web interface and a local co-processor. Together, they allow you to quickly apply “protections” that disable the ability for most GenAI programs to read and process an uploaded file, without effecting page format or accessibility. Our goal is to build a suite of tools that will enable instructors across all disciplines to spend less time policing bad behavior, and more time rewarding good work!
Click on “Launch Project Zarape” to get started!
We Need Your Help!
One of the most important things for getting Project Zarape to a point where it is reliable, friction-less (easy to install and use), and effective is support and encouragement from folks like you! This tool is currently a proof of concept and proof of demand. Signing up for an account lets us demonstrate that there is a clear demand for resetting the relationship between GenAI and the classroom.
Version Log
Version 2.3
Supports .docx and .pdf
Supports “breadcrumb” injection
Supports “ethics warning” injection
Supports modifying PDF files
Supports live PDF viewer