Chinese-GenAI in Higher Education: Adoption and Impact from a Chinese University students Case Study

Abstract

This study randomly surveyed 300 undergraduates from a Chinese university and analyzed the current status and influencing factors of university students using Chinese generative artificial intelligence(Chinese-GenAI) through methods such as descriptive statistics and variance tests. The study reveals that over 80% of respondents have used Chinese-GenAI; two-thirds of university students began using Chinese-GenAI between December 2023 and the present, while 25% started between June and December 2023. The most frequently utilized Chinese-GenAI tool is the ERNIE Bot by Baidu, and the most frequently used technology is text generation. The most common applications of Chinese-GenAI include text generation and information retrieval. Approximately 60% of university students have learned about generative AI(GenAI) knowledge or skills. The four primary scenarios where students use GenAI are course learning, academic research activities, daily life, and promotion and further education, with academic research activities being the most common scenario. Variables such as gender, grade, and college significantly impact students' use of Chinese-GenAI. Based on the survey results, this study offers recommendations from the perspectives of higher education management, corporate institutions, universities, and faculty, aiming to provide reference for integrating Chinese-GenAI into higher education teaching practices.