Generative AI Usage of University Students: Navigating Between Education and Business
Fabian Walke, Veronika Föller
This study investigates how university students who also work professionally use Generative AI (GenAI) in both their academic and business lives. Using a grounded theory approach, the researchers interviewed eleven part-time students from a distance learning university to understand the characteristics, drivers, and challenges of their GenAI usage.
Problem
While much research has explored GenAI in education or in business separately, there is a significant gap in understanding its use at the intersection of these two domains. Specifically, the unique experiences of part-time students who balance professional careers with their studies have been largely overlooked.
Outcome
- GenAI significantly enhances productivity and learning for students balancing work and education, helping with tasks like writing support, idea generation, and summarizing content. - Students express concerns about the ethical implications, reliability of AI-generated content, and the risk of academic misconduct or being falsely accused of plagiarism. - A key practical consequence is that GenAI tools like ChatGPT are replacing traditional search engines for many information-seeking tasks due to their speed and directness. - The study highlights a strong need for universities to provide clear guidelines, regulations, and formal training on using GenAI effectively and ethically. - User experience is a critical factor; a positive, seamless interaction with a GenAI tool promotes continuous usage, while a poor experience diminishes willingness to use it.
Host: Welcome to A.I.S. Insights, the podcast at the intersection of business, technology, and Living Knowledge. I’m your host, Anna Ivy Summers. Host: Today, we're diving into a fascinating new study titled "Generative AI Usage of University Students: Navigating Between Education and Business." Host: It explores a very specific group: university students who also hold professional jobs. It investigates how they use Generative AI tools like ChatGPT in both their academic and work lives. And here to help us unpack it is our analyst, Alex Ian Sutherland. Welcome, Alex. Expert: Great to be here, Anna. Host: Alex, let's start with the big picture. Why focus on this particular group of working students? What’s the problem this study is trying to solve? Expert: Well, there's a lot of research on GenAI in the classroom and a lot on GenAI in the workplace, but very little on the bridge between them. Expert: These part-time students are a unique group. They are under immense time pressure, juggling deadlines for both their studies and their jobs. The study wanted to understand if GenAI is helping them cope, how they use it, and what challenges they face. Expert: Essentially, their experience is a sneak peek into the future of a workforce that will be constantly learning and working with AI. Host: So, how did the researchers get these insights? What was their approach? Expert: They took a very direct, human-centered approach. Instead of a broad survey, they conducted in-depth, one-on-one interviews with eleven of these working students. Expert: This allowed them to move beyond simple statistics and really understand the nuances, the strategies, and the genuine concerns people have when using these powerful tools in their day-to-day lives. Host: That makes sense. So let's get to it. What were the key findings? Expert: The first major finding, unsurprisingly, is that GenAI is a massive productivity booster for them. They use it for everything from summarizing articles and generating ideas for papers to drafting emails and even debugging code for work. It saves them precious time. Host: But I imagine it's not all smooth sailing. Were there concerns? Expert: Absolutely. That was the second key finding. Students are very aware of the risks. They worry about the accuracy of the information, with one participant noting, "You can't blindly trust everything he says." Expert: There’s also a significant fear around academic integrity. They’re anxious about being falsely accused of plagiarism, especially when university guidelines are unclear. As one student put it, "I think that's a real shame because you use Google or even your parents to correct your work and... that is absolutely allowed." Host: That’s a powerful point. Did any other user behaviors stand out? Expert: Yes, and this one is huge. For many information-seeking tasks, GenAI is actively replacing traditional search engines like Google. Expert: Nearly all the students said they now turn to ChatGPT first. It’s faster. Instead of sifting through pages of links, they get a direct, synthesized answer. One student even said, "Googling is a skill itself," implying it's a skill they need less often now. Host: That's a fundamental shift. So bringing all these findings together, what's the big takeaway for businesses? Why does this study matter for our listeners? Expert: It matters immensely, Anna, for several reasons. First, this is your incoming workforce. New graduates and hires will arrive expecting to use AI tools. They'll be looking for companies that don't just permit it, but actively integrate it into workflows to boost efficiency. Host: So businesses need to be prepared for that. What else? Expert: Training and guidelines are non-negotiable. This study screams that users need and want direction. Companies can’t afford a free-for-all. Expert: They need to establish clear policies on what data can be used, how to verify AI-generated content, and how to use it ethically. One student worked at a bank where public GenAI tools were banned due to sensitive customer data. That's a risk every company needs to assess. Proactive training isn't just a nice-to-have; it's essential risk management. Host: That seems critical, especially with data privacy. Any final takeaway for business leaders? Expert: Yes: user experience is everything. The study found that a smooth, intuitive, and fast AI tool encourages continuous use, while a clunky interface kills adoption. Expert: If you're building or buying AI solutions for your team, the quality of the user experience is just as important as the underlying model. If it's not easy to use, your employees simply won't use it. Host: So, to recap: we have an incoming AI-native workforce, a critical need for clear corporate guidelines and training, and the lesson that user experience will determine success or failure. Host: Alex, this has been incredibly insightful. Thank you for breaking down this study for us. Expert: My pleasure, Anna. Host: And thank you to our audience for tuning in to A.I.S. Insights, powered by Living Knowledge. We’ll see you next time.
