What ChatGPT means for universities: perceptions of scholars and students

This study investigates the implications of ChatGPT, an [artificial intelligence] AI-powered language model, for students and universities by examining the perceptions of scholars and students. The responses of seven scholars and 14 [Doctor of Philosophy] PhD students from four countries - Turkey, Sweden, Canada and Australia - are analysed using a thematic content analysis approach. Nine key themes emerge from the findings. According to their frequency of recurrence, these themes are: 'Evolution of learning and education systems', 'changing role of educators', 'impact on assessment and evaluation', 'ethical and social considerations', 'future of work and employability', 'personalized learning', 'digital literacy and AI integration', 'AI as an extension of the human brain', and 'importance of human characteristics'.

The potential benefits of AI in education as well as the challenges and barriers that may arise from its integration are discussed in the context of existing literature. Based on these findings, suggestions for future research include further exploration of the ethical implications of AI for education, the development of strategies to manage privacy concerns, and the investigation of how educational institutions can best prepare for the integration of AI technologies. The paper concludes by emphasizing the importance of understanding the potential opportunities and challenges associated with AI in higher education and the need for continued research in this area.

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