APPRAISAL OF THE BENEFITS AND DYSFUNCTIONS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) AMONG YOUNG COMMUNICATION RESEARCHERS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF JOS

The increasing reliance on artificial intelligence (AI) in researches across various disciplines has generated concern among scholars and academic instructors in the department of Mass Communication of the University of Jos. This concern prompted the researchers to explore the benefits and the dysfunctions of the use of artificial intelligence by young communication researchers of the University of Jos. The study employed Technological Acceptance Model (TAM) which describes and predict how users come to accept and use technology based on their perceptions of its usefulness and ease of use. The study adopted a qualitative approach using interview guide to collect data from the respondents which consisted of Masters Class of Mass Communication (Class of 2022) of the University of Jos, who are graduating 2025. Using availability sampling, the researchers interviewed 20 out of the 48 young scholars in the class and data collected were analyzed and presented in form of narration. The study found out that young communication researchers of the university of Jos use AI in research and that AI is faster, easy to use, gives access to helpful material and simplifies the researchers’ tasks. It was also revealed that AI exposes the researcher to the academic crime of plagiarism, kills their critical thinking skills, creativity and make the researchers professionally unproductive. The researchers recommended that communication researchers should stay updated in AI’s advancements to leverage its potentials while understanding its dysfunctions in order to foster human critical thinking, creativity and avoid plagiarism.