After some debate, we drew a line separating mechanical churning from actual thinking. Automating repetitive tasks or literature searches was acceptable.

Was there any possibility of this not being the case? Rules which are not enforceable do not exist. If it's any part of the process you can't check, students are going to do it in the easiest way possible.

I feel like that agreement gives the student a "win" in their minds, that they were going to do anyway, but now its approved so they can feel some labor lifted on their end.