Are you a positive or negative user of AI? Exploring the impacts of undergraduates' GenAI use

Purpose Artificial intelligence (AI) tools are rapidly becoming commonplace in many academic environments; however, studies examining not just whether students use these technologies but how their usage patterns shape learning outcomes and academic integrity remain understudied. This study begins to address this gap by exploring undergraduates' patterns of constructive or problematic use of AI and their relation to academic and ethical behaviors. Design/methodology/approach This exploratory study used a cross-sectional design employing quantitative data collection methods. A correlation and multiple regression analysis were conducted with college students' (N = 110) self-reports of AI use, academic motivation and engagement, reliance on AI, and digital citizenship. Findings Negative and positive AI use were correlated with AI Reliance. Negative AI use also predicted stronger AI reliance with weaker digital citizenship skills, unlike positive AI use. Notably, positive and negative AI use were strongly correlated, suggesting that use patterns are not uniform on an individual level and may vary by context. Research limitations/implications Our results suggest that students may shift between different AI patterns. Future researchers should aim to clarify the causal mechanisms and recruit a larger and more diverse sample to validate and expand upon our findings. Originality/value To our knowledge, this paper is a rare empirical study that explores the relationship between specific student academic outcomes and AI use in distinctive usage patterns: positive and negative.