Student engagement with artificial intelligence tools in academia: a survey of Jordanian universities

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) has led to its increasing integration into academic environments, raising critical questions about its educational implications. This study investigates the use of AI tools among university students in Jordan, focusing on platforms such as ChatGPT, Google Bard, Microsoft Bing, and Meta AI. A convergent-parallel mixed-methods design was employed, with quantitative (closed-ended) and qualitative (open-ended) data collected concurrently through an online survey distributed over two months. A total of 337 valid responses were obtained from students across 27 universities. The survey explored demographic characteristics, chatbot awareness and use, perceived benefits and challenges, ethical concerns, and future intentions. Results indicate that ChatGPT is the most recognized (94.3%) and widely used (90.4%) tool, while Meta AI is the least utilized (7.8%). Approximately 89% of students reported using AI tools for academic tasks, and 86.6% perceived them as educationally beneficial. However, only 39.7% believed these tools significantly improved their understanding, while 57.6% reported a positive impact on academic performance. These findings reveal a growing trend of AI integration into student study practices in Jordan, highlighting both its practical advantages and the need for further inquiry into its pedagogical value and ethical use.