Rector of Ghent University relinquishes honorary doctorate from University of Amsterdam

"Dogma is the enemy of progress, as you may know," said Albert Einstein, as quoted by Petra De Sutter in her inaugural speech as rector of the University of Ghent last September. The problem is, Einstein never uttered those words. The quote was fabricated by AI.

A gynaecologist, De Sutter was supposed to receive an honorary doctorate from the University of Amsterdam (UvA) next week as recognition for "her important contributions to medical science" and her "influential social engagement," but that is no longer happening.

Not the right moment
De Sutter has announced that she will no longer attend the ceremony. Given the circumstances, she feels that it is not the right moment. Besides, she does not want to harm the UvA, reports the university magazine Folia. A spokesperson for the UvA says they understand the decision, which they qualify as "the right step."

During her election campaign (rectors are elected in Belgium), the rector warned against taking AI's answers at face value. "I deeply regret that I fell into this trap," she says now. "This experience has been a good lesson for me and will undoubtedly further stimulate the debate on the use of AI," De Sutter told VRT NWS.