Abstract
This study fully addresses the effects of ChatGPT on tourism students from the perspective of academic tourism. When the research results are evaluated comprehensively, it is determined that academics have negative and positive opinions about the effects of ChatGPT on their students. It is seen that ChatGPT increases students' learning performance and digital literacy. However, there are also some opposing views on learning performance. It is stated that it is difficult for students to internalize information using ChatGPT; therefore, learning performance will be negatively affected. Similarly, it is thought that students' critical and analytical skills will be negatively affected by ChatGPT. Other positive effects of ChatGPT on students include raising their awareness of innovation and time management, providing information diversity, and supporting personal development and language learning. The adverse impact of ChatGPT on students includes making them lazy, weakening their researcher identities, losing motivation, and decreasing their evaluation skills.
TopIntroduction
Artificial intelligence and its various applications have permeated virtually every aspect of modern society (Demir & Demir, 2023b; Gill et al., 2024). Among these applications, ChatGPT has emerged as a prominent tool since its introduction in late 2022 (Dwivedi et al., 2023). ChatGPT leverages artificial intelligence and natural language processing techniques to facilitate interactive conversations (Elbanna & Armstrong, 2024). ChatGPT is distinguished by its ability to create diverse content types, including text, images, and voice, and respond to queries in a manner that is similar to human interaction (Kasneci et al., 2023). This capability to emulate human speech and behavior has spurred a surge in demand for ChatGPT-generated content across various domains (Duong et al., 2023). Moreover, the persuasiveness and effectiveness of the content produced by ChatGPT have piqued the interest of businesses and individuals across diverse sectors, driving widespread adoption (Demir & Demir, 2023a).
The field of education is witnessing the transformative impact of artificial intelligence applications like ChatGPT (Demir et al., 2023; Mhlanga, 2023). ChatGPT's ability to tailor responses to students' individual needs and enhance the research experience has rendered it increasingly valuable (Mogavi et al., 2024). Its adaptability within the educational context further underscores its utility (Rahman & Watanobe, 2023). ChatGPT serves diverse purposes for students, including homework assistance, exam preparation, personal tutoring, and language learning support (Adeshola & Adepoju, 2023). By swiftly delivering targeted content, ChatGPT has become a favored tool among students and educators in the educational domain (Montenegro-Rueda et al., 2023). Moreover, the learning process facilitated by ChatGPT fosters the generation of innovative ideas, thereby supporting intellectual development (Habibi et al., 2023). Consequently, ChatGPT emerges as a disruptive force reshaping the education landscape (Hong, 2023).
In addition to its positive contributions to education, ChatGPT also has some negative effects. ChatGPT has been criticized for not having up-to-date information after 2021 (Lo, 2023). The possibility that the content produced by ChatGPT may be inaccurate or incomplete is also frequently emphasized (Michel-Villarreal et al., 2023). In addition, the negative impact of ChatGPT on students' critical thinking and problem-solving skills is also a concern (Demir & Demir, 2023c). The fact that ChatGPT has positive and negative aspects on students requires research on the subject in different branches within the field of education. One of these branches is tourism education.
Key Terms in this Chapter
ChatGPT: It is an artificial intelligence supported chat robot.
Learning Performance: It is the outcome that an individual obtains from the learning process.
Artificial Intelligence: It is an artificial operating system that exhibits human-like behavior.
Critical and Analytical Skills: It is the individual's deep thinking.
Digital Literacy: It is the ability to use and understand digital technologies.