Exploring the Challenges of LLMs in Higher Education: Is ChatGPT a Boon or Bane for the Students?

Authors

  • C. Sivapragasam Department of Civil Engineering, Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education, Srivilliputhur, Tamil Nadu
  • M. Vasudevan Department of Civil Engineering, Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education, Srivilliputhur, Tamil Nadu
  • N. Natarajan Department of Civil Engineering, Dr. Mahalingam College of Engineering and Technology, Pollachi, Tamil Nadu
  • P. Saravanan Department of Civil Engineering, Dr. Ambedkar Institute of Technology, Bengaluru, Karnataka

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.16920/jeet/2026/v39is2/26068

Keywords:

AI in higher education; impacts of LLM; responsible AI; digital usage behavior; attitudinal patterns

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots such as ChatGPT are rapidly becoming integral to higher education, creating new possibilities for learning while also raising concerns about their broader impacts. Recognizing the need to understand how students engage with these tools and how aware they are of their environmental implications, this study examines usage behaviors and data-storage practices among undergraduate engineering students. A four-level structured opinion survey was designed to capture both behavioral tendencies and emotional responses related to AI use. The findings show that students’ inherent behavioral dispositions strongly influence how they adopt AI tools and manage their associated search data. Although most students initially lacked explicit knowledge about the environmental footprint of large language models (LLM), many intuitively associated AI use with increased water and energy consumption, suggesting emerging environmental consciousness. The sustainability attitude among the students was found to be closely related to their levels of awareness and emotional engagement. These insights highlight the need for a phased, pedagogically grounded approach to AI integration in higher education, emphasizing conceptual learning and problem-solving skills in early semesters while regulating the intensity of AI exposure. The study underscores key behavioral factors that can guide institutions in fostering responsible and sustainable AI practices and offers a foundation for future research on designing environmentally conscious AI-literacy frameworks for academic settings.

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Published

2026-01-30

How to Cite

Sivapragasam, C., Vasudevan, M., Natarajan, N., & Saravanan, P. (2026). Exploring the Challenges of LLMs in Higher Education: Is ChatGPT a Boon or Bane for the Students?. Journal of Engineering Education Transformations, 39(Special Issue 2), 574–583. https://doi.org/10.16920/jeet/2026/v39is2/26068

Issue

Volume 39, Special Issue 2, January 2026

Section

Articles
Crossref
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Europe PMC

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