AI AND ACADEMICS: WHAT 500 NIGERIAN RESEARCHERS THINK

and the availability of huge data sets, which led to the development of expert systems capable of making decisions based on rules and data. This article examines what 500 Nigerian researchers think about AI and Academics. Design/Method/Approach: The study adopted the descriptive survey, evaluating data from 500 Nigerian researchers across the six geo-political zones. A structured questionnaire was designed with four clusters. Descriptive statistics, such as simple percentages, were used in answering the demographic and research questions. Administration of the instrument and collection of data was done through academic platforms of various institutions through Survey Monkey, which aided fast and ease in data clean-up. Findings: The survey revealed positive views on the researchers' perceptions of integrating AI technologies in their research work, recognizing its potential to enhance research quality. Originality/Value: This study provides valuable insight into the perceptions, benefits, and ethical challenges of AI adoption among 500 Nigerian researchers, highlighting a predominantly positive attitude towards AI's potential to improve the quality of research, speed up data analysis, and promote innovations. Implication: The study implies that while Nigerian researchers are generally positive about the transformative potential of AI in academia, its effective integration requires deliberate efforts to overcome significant ethical, technical, and collaborative challenges. It suggests the critical need for interdisciplinary collaboration, continuous system updates, transparent practices, and robust ethical frameworks to ensure AI adoption enhances research without compromising fairness, privacy, security, or sustainability, which highlights the importance of proactive policy-making and capacity building to fully realize AI's benefits in the research landscape. Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Data Privacy, Researcher.