INTELIGENCIA ARTIFICIAL EN DOCENTES Y ESTUDIANTES UNIVERSITARIOS: USOS Y PERCEPCIONES

Abstract

The objective was to analyze the uses and perceptions of artificial intelligence (AI) among professors and students in the Obstetrics program at the Technical University of Babahoyo in 2024. Using a quantitative approach, a validated questionnaire developed by Cimenna Chao Rebolledo and Miguel Angel Rivera Navarro from the Ibero-American University was applied. This questionnaire was previously used in their study on the uses and perceptions of AI tools in higher education. Data were collected on age, professional category, work dedication, and frequency of AI tool usage, analyzing their impact on educational practices and associated ethical perceptions. Among professors, the average age was 45.68 years, with a slight predominance of contracted faculty (54.55%) and full-time dedication (54.55%). A total of 63.6% reported using AI tools, with ChatGPT being the most notable. It was found that frequent adoption of AI strongly correlates with a technologically driven teaching environment and the perceived need for training (r=0.717). However, significant ethical concerns emerged (r=0.988). For students, the primary use of AI was for research tasks (45.45%). While the frequency of use aligns with teaching practices, the perception of AI's positive impact differed (r=-0.304), possibly due to the distinct expectations of each group.

The correlation between professors and students highlights the need for joint training on the ethical and effective use of these technologies. Additionally, the results reflect moderate acceptance of AI in education, with shared ethical concerns that need to be addressed.