Reliance on Generative AI Tools (ChatGPT, Claude and Equivalents) for Study, Work and Decision-Making: A Narrative Review of Evidence (2022–2026), Research Gaps, and the Under-Studied Indian Context

Generative artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT and Claude have rapidly become everyday supports for studying, working, and decision-making since late 2022. This narrative review synthesises published empirical studies, systematic reviews, and major institutional reports from 2022 to 2026 on patterns of reliance, cognitive and psychological consequences, and contextual factors. It maps what is known across educational, workplace, and decision contexts; identifies major gaps including conceptual fragmentation, the predominance of cross-sectional designs, and limited longitudinal evidence; and examines why India, despite being one of the largest user populations in absolute terms, remains under-studied in peer-reviewed research on dependence and over-reliance. The review positions Indian research as a high-priority gap for sociological inquiry into agency, institutional pressure, inequality, and technological mediation.