Patterns of Generative AI Use Among Students in Indonesian Islamic Higher Education

Abstract

The rapid development of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) has reshaped learning practices in higher education, particularly in students’ academic activities such as writing, summarizing, translating, and idea generation using tools like ChatGPT and similar applications. However, empirical evidence on how students use GenAI in daily learning practices within Indonesian Islamic Higher Education Institutions (PTKIN) remains limited. This study aims to map patterns of GenAI use among undergraduate students in PTKIN using a descriptive quantitative survey design. The study involved 283 students from 10 PTKIN across western, central, and eastern Indonesia. Data were collected through a structured online questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages). The findings reveal a very high level of GenAI adoption, with 97.5% of students reporting its use for learning purposes. Usage is intensive, as more than 90% of respondents use GenAI at least several times per week, indicating its integration into academic routines. ChatGPT emerges as the most widely used tool, often complemented by other applications. Access is predominantly through free or freemium services across both mobile and desktop devices. GenAI is mainly used for text-based academic tasks, while multimodal use remains limited. Notably, 70.3% of respondents reported being unaware of official GenAI usage guidelines. Overall, the findings suggest that while GenAI is widely embedded in student learning practices, awareness of institutional guidance remains low.