COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ATTITUDE AND PERCEPTION OF BUSINESS EDUCATION STUDENTS TOWARD ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Artificial intelligence (AI) is all around us in the twenty-first century. Nearly every sector is utilizing AI, which is developing quickly. The term Al, coined in the 1950s, refers to the simulation of human intelligence by machines. It covers an ever- changing set of capabilities as new technologies are develop. This research study made a comparative study of attitudes and perceptions of Business Education students towards Artificial Intelligence. The study specifically determined the attitude of Business Education students towards Artificial Intelligence. Also, the study examined the perception of Business Education students towards Artificial Intelligence. It also made a comparison of the attitude of Business Education students with their perception of Artificial Intelligence The methodology of the study comprised of the research design, population of the study, sample size, sampling technique, research instrument, the validity of research instrument, reliability of research instrument, administration of research instrument and the method of data analysis. The research design adopted for the study was a survey method with a population of 586 which was the estimated population of the undergraduates in the Department of Educational Management Business Studies, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State. However, the sample size was pruned down to 293 using the Taro Yamane formula. However, purposive sampling technique was used to select the samples used. Questionnaires were designed with closed ended questions in Liker scale format. This questionnaire was tested using the Alpha Cronbach and it was proven to be reliable suitable for research. The questionnaires were administered and 252 were retrieved and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The findings of the study showed that most of the students have a negative attitude towards artificial intelligence. Also, the findings showed that most of the students have a skeptical perception of the artificial intelligence. The findings also reveal that there was significant difference in the attitude of business education students towards Artificial intelligence based on student levels. Also, there was no difference in the perception of business education students towards Al usage based on gender. The Study concluded most of the students were aware of the potential benefits of AI in education. However, the findings underscore the prevailing skeptical perceptions and attitude towards artificial intelligence, with students expressing doubts to its integration into the academic curriculum and acknowledging its role in improving healthcare services. Concerns related to Al's impact on the humanistic aspect of the education were evident, though not unanimously shared. Furthermore, the study reveals associations between students' skeptical perceptions and negative attitude towards artificial intelligence. These nuanced insights contribute to our understanding of students' attitudes and perceptions towards artificial intelligence, emphasizing the need for tailored educational strategies and continued exploration of the evolving role of artificial intelligence in education.