The advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technology has driven transformations in higher education, particularly through the utilization of AI-based chatbots. These chatbots are employed by students to support various aspects of academic research activities. This study aims to uncover students' perceptions regarding the effectiveness and skillfulness in using AI chatbots to support their understanding and execution of academic research. Employing a descriptive qualitative approach, this study involved 100 students from 12 higher education institutions in Indonesia, selected purposively. The findings revealed five key themes: (1) ease of use and accessibility; (2) comprehensive features and information capacity; (3) ability to assist academic writing; (4) availability of credible academic references; and (5) flexibility and contextualization—students use multiple chatbots depending on their specific needs and contexts. This research provides a theoretical contribution to educational technology studies and practical implications for higher education institutions in designing contextual and adaptive AI literacy training.
Sihotang et al. (Mon,) studied this question.