aceHigher education students’ perceptions of ChatGPT: A global study of early reactions
The paper presents the most comprehensive and large-scale global study to date on how higher education students perceived the use of ChatGPT in early 2024. With a sample of 23,218 students from 109 countries and territories, the study reveals that students primarily used ChatGPT for brainstorming, summarizing texts, and finding research articles, with a few using it for professional and creative writing. They found it useful for simplifying complex information and summarizing content, but less reliable for provi…
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In early 2024, researchers surveyed 23,218 higher education students in 109 countries and territories about ChatGPT. Students reported using it mainly for brainstorming, summarizing texts, and finding research articles, finding it helpful for simplifying complex information but less reliable for providing information and supporting classroom learning.
The results matter because they capture early student attitudes that universities and policymakers can use to shape curricula, assessment tools, and AI regulations. Uncertainty remains about how perceptions translate into actual learning outcomes and long-term skill effects, and how views differ across demographic and geographic groups identified in the study.
- Survey of 23,218 students from 109 countries and territories in early 2024 examined ChatGPT use and perceptions.
- Primary uses were brainstorming, summarizing texts, and finding research articles, with some professional and creative writing.
- Students rated it useful for simplifying complex information but less reliable for providing information and supporting classroom learning.
- Emotional responses were mostly positive, with curiosity and calmness as most common emotions.
Students expressed concerns that ChatGPT promotes cheating and plagiarism and is less reliable for classroom learning and less useful for developing critical thinking, interpersonal communication, and decision-making skills.
The rundown
The study collected responses from 23,218 higher education students across 109 countries and territories in early 2024, described as the most comprehensive large-scale global study to date on student perceptions.
Findings show variation across socio-demographic and geographic factors, with students agreeing on need for AI regulations at all levels while also believing ChatGPT would boost demand for AI-related skills and facilitate remote work without significantly impacting unemployment.
Sources
- Peer-reviewedPLOS ONE2025-02-05
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