26. Enhancing Research to Smart Research: Usage of AI Tools in Research and Higher Education

In the evolving landscape of research and higher education, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is redefining how knowledge is created, curated, and communicated. From automating literature reviews to providing real-time citation management, AI tools are transforming traditional research practices into smart, efficient, and more inclusive methodologies. This paper explores the integration of AI tools into academic research, highlighting their influence on various research tasks and their growing significance in higher education. Data collected through recent surveys and studies illustrate the adoption rate and impact of popular AI tools like ChatGPT, Grammarly, Copilet, Deepseek and others. The paper further discusses challenges in AI usage in Higher education and research and the measures to overcome the challenges based on the perception of the educators and researchers.