THE CHANGING LANDSCAPE OF ACADEMIC COMMUNICATION: AI ADOPTION, STUDENT TRUST AND DIGITAL DEPENDENCY

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has rapidly become a central tool in higher education, reshaping academic communication and knowledge exchange. This study explores the impact of AI credibility on student perceptions and digital dependency within academic contexts. It examines how trust in AI-generated content influences students’ engagement with scholarly discourse and the growing reliance on digital systems for academic tasks. Using the framework of Human-AI Interaction Trust Theory and UTAUT this paper argues that digital dependency in academic communication is not merely a technological shift but a cognitive and cultural transformation, raising questions about authenticity, intellectual autonomy, and the future of higher education. The study adopts a quantitative survey methodology using a sample of 100 students through random sampling from Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu. By analyzing these dynamics, the study contributes to ongoing debates on the ethical integration of AI in academia and underscores the need for pedagogical strategies that balance technological utility with critical literacy.