Artificial Intelligence Tools Out-Turn in Higher Learning Education and Students’ Academic Performance

This study aims to describe the effects of ChatGPT on students learning and students' academic performance in higher learning institutions using Mzumbe University Main Campus as case. The nature of this study is descriptive with mixed approach. Research data were obtained using self-administered questionnaires and interviews. The sample size was 98 students obtained through stratified simple randomly and purposive sampling techniques. Data processing, extracting of themes and analysis were done using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. The findings from most of respondents (81.1%) revealed that most students advocate the use of ChatGPT since it enhancing their capacity in constructing learning material and their overall academic performance. Results further indicate that, students were much motivated to use ChatGPT due to time efficiency, peer and personal unwillingness, minimum versus maximum rewards where students managed to get higher marks especially in take home and unsupervised assignment and personal unwillingness to study scholar material such as journal, article and learning material provided by instructors. However, apart from the advantage of using ChatGPT also revealed that too much dependence on AI tools including ChatGPT destroy some students studying aspirations and commitment, brainstorming and critical thinking. The study concludes that’s there is no way that students, leaners and instructors can avoid the use of AI tools including ChatGPT in the current era and therefore recommends that, instead burning students from using AI tools, it is right time now to introduce proper and ethical way on how to use this tools to sharpen knowledge and improve performance.