The article discusses the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in academic research, highlighting both its potential and limitations.It references recent guidelines from the University Grants Commission (UGC) in India, which state that PhD theses with 10-40% AI-generated content will be returned for revision.AI is permitted only for language correction and limited support, raising questions about plagiarism and academic integrity.

The piece emphasizes that while AI can assist with tasks like literature reviews, hypothesis generation, and data analysis, it cannot replace human oversight.Researchers must ensure transparency, accountability, and proper validation of AI-generated content.

The article also notes that AI tools may produce hallucinations or untestable hypotheses, making it crucial for supervisors to guide the research process.

Despite challenges, AI can be a valuable auxiliary tool in fields like data science and digital humanities, but its use must be balanced with original intellectual contribution.

The author stresses the importance of AI literacy for researchers and underscores that the core of academic research lies in human creativity and critical thinking.