AI Literacy among College Students and Its Influence on Academic Performance: A Study of Generative AI Tools

Abstract In today’s technology-driven world, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming an important part of higher education. College students are increasingly using AI tools such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, Claude, and Perplexity AI for their academic work. These tools help students prepare assignments and presentations, understand difficult topics, find ideas, improve their writing, and complete academic tasks in less time. However, simply knowing how to use AI is not enough. Students also need to understand whether the information provided by AI is correct, how to use it responsibly, and what problems may arise from depending too much on these tools. This study focuses on understanding the level of AI literacy among college students and its relationship with their academic performance. It will also study how familiar students are with generative AI tools, how often they use them, and for what academic purposes. The study will further examine the benefits students experience, the difficulties they face, and their understanding of issues such as academic honesty, originality, privacy, and responsible use of AI. The study will use a mixed-methods research design, combining both quantitative and qualitative methods. Quantitative information will be collected through a structured questionnaire using Google Forms. Interviews and open-ended questions will be used to understand students’ personal experiences, opinions, and attitudes towards AI in education. The study will include college students between 18 and 26 years of age from different academic backgrounds. The research will be limited to colleges in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. The study is expected to provide a clear picture of how AI literacy is connected with students’ academic performance. The findings may also help colleges and teachers plan AI literacy programmes and create practical guidelines for the proper use of AI in education. Overall, the study aims to encourage students to use AI as a helpful learning tool while maintaining independent thinking, originality, and academic responsibility.