Towards the Use of Artificial Intelligence (ChatGPT) in Higher Education: Students’ Perspective

Abstract

The paper deals with the issue of AI, in particular ChatGPT used for various purposes during the academic process, in higher education from the standpoint of students’ perception of the phenomenon in question. Nowadays, we live in the era of internet technologies which interfere with all aspects of human life; education is no exception. Today the use of technology is greatly supported to improve and support innovative teaching and learning, and it is undeniable that AI is bringing changes to the teaching and learning process. However, the question is whether those technological advances, in particular, ChatGPT will bring positive changes and enhance students’ learning skills. Besides, when discussing the intensive use of technologies in different spheres of human life, usually, ethical issues usually come into the spotlight. Therefore, the paper aimed to identify the frequency and intensity of addressing ChatGPT for different purposes by the undergraduate students at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, their perception of the tool in terms of academic honesty and integrity, and the university’s role in raising awareness about the possible implications of breaching academic ethics through the survey questionnaire circulated among the target audiences. The obtained results demonstrated students’ considerable reliance on AI (Chat GPT) -assisted learning in Higher Education despite admitting its potential for Academic Dishonesty. The study also revealed the practical necessity for more informed discussion and refocus on the concepts of Academic Ethics among the stakeholders of the University to regulate the use of ChatGPT-generated content in education.