Use of artificial intelligence tools in university academic writing: a systematic review

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23111613

Keywords:

artificial intelligence, writing instruction, university education

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the existing evidence in the scientific literature on the use of AI tools in university academic writing. A qualitative, documentary-based methodological approach was chosen, employing a systematic review through the PRISMA framework. An initial search was conducted in the Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Redalyc databases, covering the period from 2023 to 2026. Ultimately, 41 studies were included in the final analysis. The results showed that the studies converge on four thematic areas: students' perceptions and attitudes, the impact of AI on academic writing, autonomy and critical thinking, and pedagogical strategies from an ethical perspective. The study concludes that AI optimizes the linguistic efficiency of academic writing but reduces originality and argumentative depth when its use is unsupervised; therefore, its value and formative use depend on a pedagogical and ethical integration that preserves student agency and strengthens critical thinking.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

AbdAlgane, M., Ali, R., Othman, K., Ibrahim, I., Alhaj, M., Ali, E., & Allehyani, F. (2026). Exploring AI-Generated Texts vs. Human-Written Texts in EFL Academic Writing: A Case Study of Qassim University in Saudi Arabia. World Journal of English Language, 16(2), 114. https://doi.org/10.5430/wjel.v16n2p114

Ahmed, A. (2022). Academic Writing: Types, Elements, and Strategies. IJLHE: International Journal of Language, Humanities, and Education, 5(2), 60-70. https://doi.org/10.52217/ijlhe.v5i2.989

Aldabbus, S., & Almansouri, E. (2022). Academic Writing Difficulties Encountered by University EFL Learners. British Journal of English Language Linguistics, 10(3), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.37745/bjel.2013/vol10n3111

Aljuaid, H. (2024). The Impact of Artificial Intelligence Tools on Academic Writing Instruction in Higher Education: A Systematic Review. Arab World English Journal, 1(1), 26-55. https://doi.org/10.24093/awej/ChatGPT.2

Alvarado-Mendoza, M., Gurrero-Jadan, M., Sandoval-Ortiz, F., & Contreras-Falcones, A. (2026). Project-based learning as a pathway to writing autonomy and responsible AI use in university EFL learners. Frontiers in Education, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2026.1757812

Alvarez, G., Cavallini, A., & Difabio, H. (2026). Inteligencia artificial en escritura académico-científica: Revisión de estudios iberoamericanos publicados en español. Exlibris, (15), 87-104. https://revistas.filo.uba.ar/index.php/exlibris/article/view/4790

Anani, G., Nyamekye, E., & Bafour-Koudah, D. (2025a). Determinants of Postgraduate Students′ Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Academic Writing in Ghana: A Structural Equation Modelling Analysis. Human Behavior and Emerging Technologies, 2025(1), 9943540. https://doi.org/10.1155/hbe2/9943540

Anani, G., Nyamekye, E., & Bafour-Koudah, D. (2025b). Using artificial intelligence for academic writing in higher education: the perspectives of university students in Ghana. Discover Education, 4(1), 46. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44217-025-00434-5

Baldrich, K., Pérez-García, C., & Santamarina-Sancho, M. (2025). Artificial intelligence in academic literacy: empirical evidence on reading and writing practices in higher education. Frontiers in Education, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2025.1701238

Balraj, B. (2025). Exploring the Use of ChatGPT in Academic Writing: A Systematic Literature Review on Undergraduates’ Perceptions. Arab World English Journal, (1), 348-357. https://doi.org/10.24093/awej/AI.20

Barquero, W. (2022). Análisis de prisma como metodología para revisión sistemática: una aproximación general. Saúde em Redes, 8(sup1), 339-360. https://doi.org/10.18310/2446-4813.2022v8nsup1p339-360

Batailler, C., Shatrov, J., Sappey-Marinier, E., Servien, E., Parratte, S., & Lustig, S. (2022). Artificial intelligence in knee arthroplasty: current concept of the available clinical applications. Arthroplasty, 4(1), 17. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42836-022-00119-6

Blanco, J. (2024). La revisión sistemática como metodología para la investigación en E/LE. Círculo de Lingüística Aplicada a la Comunicación, 97, 179-193. https://doi.org/10.5209/clac.88711

Braima, A., Shafi, A., & Hussien, J. (2026). Academic Writing Development Among EFL College Students: Does Artificial Intelligence Make Any Difference? Arab World English Journal, 17(2), 3-18. https://doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol17no2.1

Carrillo, C., Herrera, V., & Cortes, J. (2023). Inteligencia Artificial para la escritura académica en investigación. Ciencia Latina Revista Multidisciplinar, 7(4), 4604-4621. https://doi.org/10.37811/cl_rcm.v7i4.7304

Chafloque-Capuñay, J., Uría-Sánchez, M., Gonzales-Velásquez, E., Borges-Huanca, A., Marocho-Rojas, A., & Ussa-Lopez, Y. (2026). Inteligencia artificial generativa y escritura académica en la educación superior: revisión integrativa de sus implicaciones pedagógicas, éticas y evaluativas. Prohominum, 8(2), 247-262. https://doi.org/10.47606/ACVEN/PH0487

Chia, C., Phan, J., Harry, O., & Lee, K. (2025). Graduate Students’ Perception and Use of ChatGPT as a Learning Tool to Develop Writing Skills. International Journal of TESOL Studies, 6(3), 113-127. https://doi.org/10.58304/ijts.20240308

Engeström, Y. (1987). Learning by Expanding: An Activity Theoretical Approach to Developmental Research. Helsinki: Orienta-Konsultit. http://lchc.ucsd.edu/mca/Paper/Engestrom/Learning-by-Expanding.pdf

Funda, V., & Cilliers, L. (2025). Adoption of AI Chatbots by South African university students. Issues In Information Systems, 26(1), 9-19. https://doi.org/10.48009/1_iis_102

Hamamra, B. (2026). Assessed academic writing outcomes in an AI-permitted research methodology course: evidence from EFL university students in Palestine. Asian-Pacific Journal of Second and Foreign Language Education, 11(1), 36. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40862-026-00413-9

Hassan, I. (2026). Reconsidering Student Agency in the Era of AI Writing Tools: A Quantitative Study from Pakistani Higher Education. Journal of Communication, Language and Culture, 6(2), 487-507. https://doi.org/10.33093/jclc.2026.6.2.25

Hidayat, N., Ibrahim, S., Pramukti, A., Arifani, Y., & Wijayatiningsih, T. (2026). Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Academic Writing as “a Pandora′s Box”: EFL Undergraduate Students′ Voices. Human Behavior and Emerging Technologies, 2026(1), 1167530. https://doi.org/10.1155/hbe2/1167530

Korchak, A., Costley, J., & Fanguy, M. (2026). AI writes, we collaborate—or vice versa? Group strategies for using generative AI in collaborative writing assignments. Computers and Education Open, 11, 100390. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.caeo.2026.100390

Kosztyán, Z., Király, T., Csizmadia, T., Katona, A., & Vathy-Fogarassy, Á. (2025). Automated research methodology classification using machine learning. Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence, 156C, 111039. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engappai.2025.111039

Krishnaiah, P. (2026). Artificial Intelligence Tools: A Conceptual and Practical Analysis. International Journal of Engineering Technology and Management Sciences, 10(1), 40-46. https://doi.org/10.46647/ijetms.2026.v10i01.005

Limna, P., & Shaengchart, Y. (2025). Generative AI as an English Writing Aid: Thai University Students’ Perceptions and Experiences with ChatGPT and Gemini. Suranaree Journal of Social Science, 19(3), e279466. https://doi.org/10.55766/sjss279466

López, K., & Moreno, E. (2025). Retroalimentación formativa en la escritura de tesis en posgrado: Comparación entre ChatGPT y revisores pares en un círculo de escritura. Revista Virtual Universidad Católica del Norte, (74), 123-160. https://doi.org/10.35575/rvucn.n74a6

Mohareb, T., & Al-Qayyem, R. (2026). The impact of AI tools: ChatGPT, Gamma and Autopilot on performance in academic assignments. Learning Futures and Emerging Technologies, 34(1), 48-66. https://doi.org/10.1108/LFET-04-2025-0040

Moreno, E., Ochoa, L., & Hernández, M. (2026). Posibilidades y retos del uso del ChatGPT en la escritura argumentativa en el nivel universitario. Revista Virtual Universidad Católica del Norte, (78), 197-227. https://doi.org/10.35575/rvucn.n78a8

Nelson, A., Santamaría, P., Javens, J., & Ricaurte, M. (2025). Students’ Perceptions of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) Use in Academic Writing in English as a Foreign Language. Education Sciences, 15(5), 611. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci15050611

Othman, A. (2025). EFL Students’ Perceptions on Using ChatGPT as an AI Tool for Developing Academic Writing Skills: A Case Study at University College of Haql. Journal of Curriculum and Teaching, 14(3), 18. https://doi.org/10.5430/jct.v14n3p18

Pérez, V. (2026). SOCIOKAIROS: Heurística computacional para la enseñanza reflexiva en la educación universitaria a distancia. RIED-Revista Iberoamericana de Educación a Distancia, 29(2), 257-285. https://doi.org/10.5944/ried.47132

Pham, V., V., & Nguyen, N. (2026). Critical reflections on AI integration in graduate research writing. Frontiers in Education, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2026.1877950

Pizarro-Romero, J., & Lovón, M. (2025). El uso de la IA en cursos de redacción e investigación universitaria en el aula: una experiencia de caso. Desde el Sur, 17(1), e0015. https://doi.org/10.21142/DES-1701-2025-0015

Pryma, V., Pelivan, O., Teletska, T., Tsobenko, O., & Zagrebelna, N. (2025). AI Writing Assistants and Student Competence: A Linguistic Aspect. Arab World English Journal, (1), 319-329. https://doi.org/10.24093/awej/AI.18

Qosimov, A., Ne’matov, A., & Sharifovna, M. (2026). The integration of artificial intelligence in the academic writing of EFL students in higher education: a case study at Fergana State University. Cogent Education, 13(1), 2716445. https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2026.2716445

Rafida, T., Suwandi, S., & Ananda, R. (2024). EFL Students’ Perception in Indonesia and Taiwan on Using Artificial Intelligence to Enhance Writing Skills. Jurnal Ilmiah Peuradeun, 12(3), 987-1016. https://doi.org/10.26811/peuradeun.v12i3.1520

Rodríguez-Anzola, J., & Palacios-Núñez, M. (2025). Fortalezas, desafíos y recomendaciones de la Inteligencia Artificial en la escritura académica universitaria: revisión sistemática. HOMERO, 1(2), 66-79. https://doi.org/10.64492/xejrd221

Saad, S., Sulaiman, S., Mahmud, Z., & Zolkifli, A. (2025). Artificial Intelligence and Academic Discourse Redefined: A Conceptual Framework of Writing Tools and Article Analysis. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 9(10), 2786-2797. https://doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2025.910000226

Salih, S., Husain, O., Hamdan, M., Abdelsalam, S., Elshafie, H., & Motwakel, A. (2025). Transforming education with AI: A systematic review of ChatGPT’s role in learning, academic practices, and institutional adoption. Results in Engineering, 25, 103837. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rineng.2024.103837

Sánchez-Fortún, J., & Baldrich, K. (2026). La alfabetización académica asistida por inteligencia artificial generativa: impacto en la calidad de la escritura 3 disciplinaria. Pixel-Bit, Revista de Medios y Educación, (75). https://doi.org/10.12795/pixelbit.113712

Sarno-García, S., & Argüelles-Álvarez, I. (2025). Behind my Students’ Cover Email: the Role of ChatGPT in Homework Writing Tasks. Computer-Assisted Language Learning Electronic Journal, 26(6), 1-20. https://doi.org/10.54855/callej.2626262

Setiadi, M., Basri, M., Sakkir, G., Sardi, A., & Rahman, A. (2025). Students’ Perceptions of AI-Based Instruction in Academic Writing Course at an Indonesian Private University. International Journal of Language Education, 9(2), 460-479. https://doi.org/10.26858/ijole.v1i2.77294

Shahsavar, Z., Kafipour, R., Khojasteh, L., & Pakdel, F. (2024). Is artificial intelligence for everyone? Analyzing the role of ChatGPT as a writing assistant for medical students. Frontiers in Education, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2024.1457744

Shimray, S., & Subaveerapandiyan, A. (2025). Artificial Intelligence in Academic Writing and Research: Adoption and Effectiveness. Open Information Science, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1515/opis-2025-0026

Silgado-Tuñón, D., & López-Flores, J. (2025). Inteligencia Artificial Generativa en la Educación Superior: uuna Revisión Sistemática. UNIÓN - REVISTA IBEROAMERICANA DE EDUCACIÓN MATEMÁTICA, 21(73). https://revistaunion.org/index.php/UNION/article/view/1709

Stanko, D., Kolegaeva, I., & Rohach, L. (2026). Developing Critical AI Literacy in Academic Writing Classrooms. Arab World English Journal, (3), 41-54. https://doi.org/10.24093/awej/AI3.3

Stofiana, T., Sunendar, D., Mulyati, Y., & Sastromiharjo, A. (2025). Writing with AI, thinking with Toulmin: metacognitive gaps and the rhetorical limits of argumentation. Ampersand, 15, 100242. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amper.2025.100242

Sunra, L., Irawan, A., Asrifan, A., & Sadhasivam, S. (2026). Generative AI in academic writing: Student reflections on using ChatGPT for thesis proposal development. Studies in English Language and Education, 13(2), 691-709. https://doi.org/10.24815/siele.v13i2.1073

Sweller, J. (1988). Cognitive load during problem solving: Effects on learning. Cognitive Science, 12(2), 257–285 https://doi.org/10.1207/s15516709cog1202_4

Thi, X. H., Thien, H., Vuong, K., & Nguyen, T. (2025). Enhancing writing skills through AI-powered tools: perceived benefits and challenges among Vietnamese EFL students. Discover Education, 4(1), 472. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44217-025-00905-9

Thomas, L., Romasanta, A., & Pujol, L. (2026). Jagged competencies: Measuring the reliability of generative AI in academic research. Journal of Business Research, 203, 115804. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2025.115804

Tomchakovskyi, O., Tomchakovska, Y., Strochenko, L., Shvelidze, L., & Yeryomenko, S. (2026). Multimodal AI Tools as Mediators of Linguistic Development in EFL Academic Writing. Arab World English Journal, (3), 390-403. https://doi.org/10.24093/awej/A3.25

Tran, H. (2026). How does AI work as a “game changer”? Self-determination and influencing factors in EFL students’ use of AI for academic writing: Technology in Language Teaching & Learning, 8, 103723. https://doi.org/10.29140/tltl.2026.103723

UNESCO International Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean, Valentini, A., & Blancas, A. (2025). Los desafíos de la IA en la educación superior y las respuestas institucionales: ¿hay espacio para marcos de competencias? (IESALC 12, p. 35). UNESCO IESALC. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000394935_spa.locale=en

Wang, L., & Ren, B. (2024). Enhancing Academic Writing in a Linguistics Course with Generative AI: An Empirical Study in a Higher Education Institution in Hong Kong. Education Sciences, 14(12), 1329. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14121329

Wikanengsih, W., Puspita, R., Wardani, D., Nurhayati, E., & Moid, I. (2025). Enhancing Academic Writing in Higher Education: The Impact of ChatGPT and Quillbot in AI-Driven Project-Based Learning. Journal of Information Technology Education: Innovations in Practice, 24, 025. https://doi.org/10.28945/5646

Zaib, F. (2026). Shifiting the cognitive burden: AI-mediated reduction of cognitive load in functional written discurse. Journal of Applied Linguistics and TESOL (JALT), 9(1), 631-645. https://jalt.com.pk/index.php/jalt/article/view/1884/942

Zhen, X., & Lian, X. (2026). The use of AI tools in academic writing and its associations with college students’ critical thinking and academic integrity: A apath analysis involving self-regulated learning and innovative behavior. Frontiers in Psychology, 17. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1845571

Downloads

Published

2026-10-02

How to Cite

Barboza Justiniano, C. G., Chirinos Guzman, W., Melendez Rodriguez, L. J., & Escalante Meza, D. (2026). Use of artificial intelligence tools in university academic writing: a systematic review. InveCom Journal, 6(Especial 2), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23111613

Most read articles by the same author(s)