Key Aspects to Promote the Safe Use of GenAI Tools by Undergraduate Education and Architecture Students: Similarities and Differences

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) is transforming higher education, yet concerns remain about its ethical use. The perceptions of students about GenAI may differ depending on the university degree in which they are enrolled. Thus, field-specific training approaches are essential to ensure an effective GenAI adoption. The objective of this research is to analyze the use of GenAI by undergraduate Education and Architecture students, evaluate the potential and associated risks, and identify proposals for its safe use. A qualitative study was conducted with 165 Education and Architecture students, considering similarities and differences in their perceptions through an open-ended questionnaire. GenAI tools, especially ChatGPT, are mostly used on computers. Architecture students use a wide variety of GenAI tools, while those from Education degrees, who started using GenAI later, focus on text generators. The benefits identified by future educators mainly have an impact on the academic level, while future architects value their personal benefit. However, all participants agree on the negative repercussions of GenAI on their personal development. While some Education students encourage promoting the use of these tools, Architecture students call for training initiatives that should be differentiated according to the field of study.