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Arab World English Journal (AWEJ) Special Issue on Artificial Intelligence 2025 Pp.193- 219
Applied Linguistics and Artificial Intelligence Research Group, Moulay Ismail University, Meknes, Morocco
With reference to the 2023 CCI Global Consumer Sentiment Survey by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Morocco ranks among the top users of ChatGPT globally. 38% of Moroccan students reported actively using ChatGPT. In line, this research has been carried to come to terms with this high adoption rate among university students. This mixed-methods study (N=101 survey; email interviews) investigated ChatGPT usage, satisfaction levels, perceived benefits, and influencing factors among Moroccan university students. Key results revealed that ChatGPT is the dominant tool (75.25% primary choice), widely used for writing (64.36%), particularly creative (30.69%) and academic tasks (25.74%). Students appreciated its efficiency (73.2% time-saving) and idea generation capabilities (68.3% frequent benefit). Satisfaction was strongly correlated with engagement (r=0.776, p<0.01). Major concerns included accuracy (59.4% unsure/concerned) and plagiarism risks. Interviews confirmed incongruence and exposed fears of nurturing laziness (“makes us become lazy”) and hindering skill development (“I won’t improve…”). Opinions were split on whether it actually improved writing skills (47.5% positive / 52.5% negative). This scholarly work calls for informed initiatives to promote AI literacy and ethics with a view to guiding responsible use. The study concludes by advocating for the responsible use of AI in education without undermining core human competencies and skills.
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Dr. Mohammed El Messaoudi is an Assistant Professor at the faculty of arts and humanities, University of Moulay Ismail, Meknes, with 20 years of EFL teaching experience. He specializes in research methods and statistics. A prolific researcher with a PhD in Applied Linguistics, he has authored over 20 publications. Dr. El Messaoudi’s global influence is evident through his
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6236-5254
Aboulrhit Lamiae is a doctoral student at the Faculty of Arts and Letters, Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra. Her research focuses on the interplay between intercultural communication and language proficiency among university students. Her doctoral study investigates these relationships in depth. She is currently pursuing her doctoral degree in this area of research.
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-1913-3164
Rachid Daoudi is a doctoral candidate affiliated with Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University in Fez, Morocco. He also acts as a research grant manager, actively invloved in European funding programs, particularly Erasmus+ and Horizon 2020. Rachid Daoudi has co-authored a book chapter titled “Internationalisation at Home as a New Trend for University Internationalisation in the Post-COVID Reality” and a journal article titled “Exploration of the Relationships Between Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and the Education System in Morocco.”ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6494-7477
Mounya M’rabti, an EFL teacher, obtained her MA in Applied Linguistics from Moulay Ismail University, Meknès, Morocco. Currently, she is pursuing her PhD studies in Applied Linguistics at the school of arts and human sciences. Her major fields of interest are Eco-linguistics, ICT and Education, and Education for Sustainable Development.
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-4818-7796