Artificial Intelligence and formative research: a critical review from university reality; [Inteligencia Artificial y la investigación formativa: una revisión crítica a partir de la realidad universitaria]

Abstract

Artificial intelligence has taken a fundamental role in higher education, becoming an indispensable tool for learning and for strengthening research processes, influencing the way of facing different academic areas as well as the formation of new researchers in different university academic programs. In this order of ideas, the purpose of the research was to identify the relationship between AI and formative research in university students, pointing out its benefits and the ethical, social and educational challenges it poses. Using a descriptive correlational and cross-sectional design, a quantitative analysis was offered with a population of 60 undergraduate students of the computer science program at the Universidad Nacional de Educación Enrique Guzmán y Valle. Among the main findings, it was obtained that there is a direct and significant relationship between Artificial Intelligence and formative research (sig. = 0.000), affirming its potential to improve learning, although risks linked to technological inequalities, data privacy and technological dependence were also identified. It was concluded that AI is an ally in the generation of knowledge, its irresponsible use can detract from the purposes of academic and research training. © 2025, Ediciones Clio. All rights reserved.