Yuting Yang, University of Michigan; Zixin Wang, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Florian Schaub, University of Michigan
As AI assistants like ChatGPT and Google Gemini become increasingly embedded in academic and everyday contexts, some universities have introduced institutional tools to address privacy and data security concerns. To examine how trust, usability, and privacy perceptions influence tool choice, we conducted a quantitative survey of 260 University of Michigan students, staff, and faculty. The survey collected data on usage patterns, perceived value, and user concerns, with additional open-text responses providing additional context.
Results show that while commercial AI tools are preferred for their accuracy and efficiency, university-developed tools are rated higher on ethical standards, transparency, and data privacy. Paid commercial tools like ChatGPT Plus were rated significantly higher in user satisfaction and performance (p = 0.00089, paired t-test). These findings suggest that institutional tools could improve adoption by enhancing usability, while commercial tools may benefit from greater transparency and privacy safeguards.
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