Predicting the Use Behavior of Higher Education Students on ChatGPT: Evidence from the Philippines

ChatGPT is a generative language model that serves as a conversational tool to assist users with various information-seeking activities. ChatGPT has gained traction as a promising technological advancement toward enhancing the educational experience of students and learners. However, there is limited understanding of ChatGPT in higher education institutions, particularly, its benefits, issues, and use behavior considering its nascency as an academic support tool. Thus, this study examines the use behavior of ChatGPT, its issues, and its benefits by recognizing higher education students' perspectives through a survey conducted in the Philippines under the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT2). Moreso, this study analyzed the data using structural equation modeling, and topic modeling on the issues and benefits. Results show that use behavior on ChatGPT is explained by facilitating conditions, habit, and behavioral intention factors. While habit, performance expectancy, and personal innovativeness impact behavioral intention on ChatGPT. However, age and year level have no moderating effect on intention and use behavior factors. The study suggests factors critical to the use of ChatGPT in higher education. This study extends the conversation on the use of behavior towards ChatGPT, making this work the first empirical evidence from the Philippines.