Abstract:

New technologies shape the development of society and the economy across all industrial revolutions. Innovations, especially those that radically change existing paradigms, are not easily accepted and certainly not automatically. Although the topic of artificial intelligence and its potential benefits has been discussed for over 40 years, it was only the recent deployment of generative AI tools in the last year that demonstrated our unpreparedness for the adoption of this technological innovation. Universities around the world are gradually implementing various measures that differ and highlight the unclear stances of university leaders and the academic community. This ambiguity and hesitation underline the necessity and urgency of research focused on the broader aspects of using or adapting generative AI in the educational process.

This article presents the results of a survey conducted among undergraduate students before the university adopted its first formal measures. The survey highlights students' opinions and their perception of this technology. These opinions are confronted with the findings from the existing literature in this area. Based on these findings, we present suggestions and recommendations for increasing the adaptation of generative AI in the educational process. According to the survey results, increasing acceptance among instructors appears crucial. The suggestions reflect experiences with supporting the acceptance of new technologies in other areas of social life and transfer these experiences to the academic environment.

Keywords:

Artificial Intelligence, Generative AI, Education.