I stupidly used chatgpt to write an essay instead of using myself and the professor caught me. I am leaning towards confessing but he says he cannot access records right now that say I used significant AI. Should I confess or deny?

What is the school policy? I think they should expel you either way. Any student who uses AI to cheat should be expelled permanently, and the information entered into his or her transcripts to make sure he or she cannot hide their cheating.