A new survey conducted in Japan has revealed that over 30% of university students have used ChatGPT, with 14% admitting to using it for their assignments. However, the survey also found that many students were aware of the potential risks that come with the chatbot.
Out of the 4,000 undergraduate students surveyed, 91.8% said they checked and corrected answers the chatbot had generated while 85.3% added edited text to express their own ideas. These results have highlighted the weak points present in Japan’s higher education, particularly with the lack of focus on developing writing skills.
Fujio Omori, a professor who specializes in higher education, stated this survey’s results would provide critical information for government and universities to discuss how students use ChatGPT and their views on it. Some people are concerned that artificial intelligence programs like ChatGPT could undermine the creative ability and critical thinking skills of students, but 70.7% of those who used ChatGPT for assignments in the survey said it improved their thinking.
While 56.8% of students had never used ChatGPT for their assignments, 28.4% of the respondents said that they consider it cheating while 24.7% stated this was due to the chatbot giving incorrect answers. Some students believe ChatGPT should be prohibited on campus to ensure a level playing field for assessments, while others oppose such a move.
These differing views show the complexities that come with integrating AI into the education system. It is essential to address these concerns and provide clear guidelines for students on how to effectively use ChatGPT to enhance their learning and writing skills.
