The Impact of Artificial Intelligence Usage on Ethical Behaviour and Scientific Research: Does Gender Make a Difference?

Marked by rapid technological advances and gender diversity, universities are more than ever concerned about the state of the value system of the players involved in the educational and scientific research process. The risks to which AI exposes universities are diverse. Indeed, unhealthy use of AI runs the risk of turning ethics into an academic and scientific mirage. Based on a quantitative study of 239 academics from Tunisian universities in Tunis, Nabeul and Sousse, the key findings of SEM revealed that the use of artificial intelligence among male academics significantly and positively influences scientific research but significantly and negatively influences their ethical behaviour. The latter was found to significantly and negatively influences their scientific research. For female academics, the use of artificial intelligence significantly and positively influences both scientific research and ethical behaviour. The latter was found to significantly and positively influence scientific research. Unlike their male counterparts, female academics produce fewer scientific works. However, for them, ethics is of paramount importance and governs their scientific research practices. For women academics, ethics is not limited to a set of academic norms but symbolises a deeper reflection of the values that underpin their behaviour in scientific research. The results have implications for academics and decision-makers on the impact of ethics as a mediator between artificial intelligence usage and scientific research.