A third of college students using ChatGPT on homework, survey finds

One in eight students who admitted to using ChatGPT to complete assignments also credited the popular AI tool with raising their GPAs.

By Lindsay McKenzie

May 26, 2023

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 03: In this photo illustration, the OpenAI "ChatGPT" AI-generated answer to the query "Tell me about ChatGPT" is seen on a laptop screen on February 03, 2023 in London, England. OpenAI, whose online chatbot ChatGPT made waves when it was debuted in December, announced this week that a commercial version of the service, called ChatGPT Plus, would soon be available to users in the United States. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)

A survey of 1,223 undergraduate and graduate college students found that 30% used ChatGPT for schoolwork in the 2022-23 academic year.

The survey, published Wednesday by college ranking and news website Intelligent, found that students formed a very positive impression of the generative AI tool in its first year of availability — with 78% of users saying they would recommend the tool to their classmates.

Of the respondents who admitted to consulting ChatGPT for homework, 46% said they used the tool frequently. One in eight reported grade-point average increases, which they attributed to their use of ChatGPT. English was the subject that students most commonly consulted ChatGPT for, followed by chemistry and biology.

In written survey responses on the advantages of ChatGPT, students said the tool provided “good outlines” and “collects specific information which saves time in researching.” But some students noted that the information isn’t always accurate and use of the tool can be “considered cheating.”