Teacher Education Students’ Practices, Benefits, and Challenges in the Use of Generative AI Tools in Higher Education

Despite the growing adoption of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools in higher education, limited research has examined how future educators perceive and use these technologies in their academic practices. This study investigates the practices, perceived benefits, and challenges associated with the use of GenAI tools—such as ChatGPT—among undergraduate students enrolled in programs that confer teaching qualifications. Using a mixed-methods design, data were collected from 314 students from the Early Childhood Education, Philosophy, and Philology departments. The findings indicate that the majority of students use GenAI tools primarily for academic purposes, most commonly for information searching, data analysis, study advice, and exam preparation. Students reported several perceived benefits, including rapid access to information, time efficiency, improved comprehension of complex concepts, enhanced study organization, and support with assignments and research-related tasks such as summarizing or translating academic texts. At the same time, participants expressed notable concerns, particularly regarding over-reliance on AI, reduced personal effort, risks to academic integrity, diminished critical thinking, and weakened research skills. Additional challenges included misinformation, reduced creativity, improper use of AI-generated content, skill underdevelopment, and potential technological dependence. The study concludes that teacher education programs should systematically integrate AI literacy and responsible-use training to prepare future educators to address the pedagogical and ethical implications of GenAI in educational settings.