Exploring Attitude and Responsible Use of AI Among University Students

This study investigated the attitudes and responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools among university students at West Visayas State University – Himamaylan City Campus, with a focus on sex at birth and age. Using a quantitative descriptive-correlational research design, data were collected through a validated, researcher-made questionnaire covering demographics, attitudes toward AI, and levels of responsible usage. A total of 130 students participated, selected through convenience sampling. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric inferential analyses (Mann-Whitney U Test, Kruskal-Wallis H Test, and Spearman’s Rank Correlation) were applied. Results revealed that students, regardless of demographic grouping, generally held positive attitudes toward AI tools. Females (M = 3.07) and students aged 21 (M = 3.20) showed the most favorable perceptions. Significant differences in attitudes were observed between sex (p = 0.027) and age groups (p = 0.036), suggesting that demographic factors influence AI perception. Regarding responsible use, all groups scored within the “Very Responsible” range, with females (M = 3.40) and students aged 22 and above (M = 3.49) slightly outperforming their peers. However, no statistically significant differences were found for responsible use by sex (p = 0.485) or age (p = 0.099). A moderate, statistically significant positive correlation (r = 0.389, p = 0.000) was found between students’ attitudes and their responsible use of AI tools. These findings indicate that a favorable outlook on AI is associated with more ethical and conscientious use. The study highlights the need for targeted educational strategies that consider demographic differences to promote responsible AI integration in higher education settings.