The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into STEM education has gained considerable

attention recently, especially among students and educators. AI holds the promise of
revolutionizing teaching and learning in higher education, potentially transforming the
educational landscape. Its applications span various areas, including automating administrative
tasks, identifying students' abilities, providing personalized learning experiences, and utilizing
data intelligently to enhance teaching and learning. However, alongside these opportunities
come challenges such as the need for a deeper understanding of AI's role, ethical considerations,
data security, and student privacy concerns.

Despite these challenges, the positive impact of AI on student success and its potential to create
enriched educational environments are evident. Particularly in Science, Technology, Engineering,
and Mathematics (STEM) education, which is crucial for preparing students for an innovative
future, instills essential skills for the 21st century, including scientific creativity, critical thinking,
problem-solving, and adaptability to technology.

Moreover, the interest among eleventh-grade students in utilizing AI as an academic tool while
upholding academic integrity has grown. AI applications like ChatGPT, an AI-powered chatbot
developed by OpenAI, offer students personalized learning experiences with 24/7 availability and
interactive support. Especially, this study focuses on students' use of AI to encourage a deeper
understanding of its role in academic learning and its impact on their performance. It emphasizes
the importance of STEM students enhancing their academic experience through AI tools,
emphasizing comprehension, critical thinking, and creativity. However, it's essential to recognize
that traditional academic learning facilitated by teachers remains a valuable source of knowledge
limited only by their wisdom and experiences. Thus, exploring the integration of AI in STEM
education provides students with knowledge to develop their ideas while maintaining academic
integrity.

In the study conducted by Lijia Chen, Pingping Chen, and Zhijian Lin (2020), AI has been
extensively adopted in education, with applications ranging from administrative tasks to
instruction and learning. These AI systems have enabled instructors to perform administrative
functions more effectively and efficiently while also personalizing curriculum and content to meet
students' needs, thereby enhancing the overall quality of learning experiences.

AI-enhanced digital technology has played an essential role in our daily life, with its great power
of changing the way we think, act, and interact. Ever since its emergence, AI has developed with
prosperity and flourishment, particularly with the emergence of Artificial Neural Networks (ANN)
and Deep Learning (DL) (Chan & Zary, 2019).

The way how we teach and learn has been dramatically influenced by continually emerged
outcomes and achievements from different disciplines and areas, particularly STEM education
(Humble & Mozelius, 2019).

Haseski (2019) briefly states the results of these studies as follows: the use of artificial
intelligence in education will make learning more individual, provide effective learning
experiences, enable students to discover their talents, improve their creativity, and reduce
teachers' workload. Their findings indicate that AI can enhance learning by tailoring experiences
to individual students, improving academic performance, comprehension, critical thinking, and
creativity. Moreover, the mention of reducing teachers' workload through AI resonates with our
investigation into AI's role in aiding academic integrity among STEM students. However, it's worth
noting that Haseski also acknowledges concerns about the potential drawbacks of replacing
teachers with computers. Incorporating these diverse viewpoints into our study will allow for a
more comprehensive understanding of AI's impact on STEM education.

According to Sayed et al. (2021), AI technology has significant importance, and its role has been
witnessed in the recent pandemic. Many researchers agree it can be essential in education.

Applications and tools driven by AI technologies, for instance, adaptive learning systems, have
been increasingly utilized by educators and learners within both K-12 and university contexts. AI
technologies provide opportunities for the realization of personalized learning for learners to
meet their individual needs. Because everyone is independent and has unique learning styles,
abilities, and needs, it can be difficult to satisfy every learner by using traditional educational
methods. However, with AI, instructors can suit everyone’s needs on a case-by-case basis. Thus,
learners are able to be more motivated, engaged, and independent in the process of learning
(Della Ventura, 2018).

Manyika et al. (2018) emphasize that good teachers will continue to exist in the future, teaching
classes designed to boost students' affective intelligence, creativity, and communication. In fact,
according to these authors, developments in artificial intelligence and automation will actually
make 'people more human.' While addressing educational research on artificial intelligence.

In addition, Ashraf Alam (2021) discusses how artificial intelligence (AI) extends beyond
traditional computer settings, becoming readily available in low-cost smart devices, thus
accessible to the general population. Alam explores AI's impact on education in two main ways:
firstly, in the educational process itself, assisting and modifying pedagogy and educators' roles,
and secondly, in the scope and content of education, determining what type of education is
necessary. He delves into the challenges and potentials AI presents in education. This insight adds
valuable depth to our understanding of the multifaceted implications of AI integration in
education.

Researchers are afraid that by 2030 the AI revolution will focus on enhancing benefits and social
control but will also raise ethical concerns, and there is no consensus among them. A clear
division regarding AI's positive impact on life and moral standing (Rainie et al., 2021).

What opportunities can artificial intelligence offer in education that will differentiate people from
robots or smart vehicles and help humans keep their emotional and social aspects? Most
probably soon, these topics will be the main agenda of policymakers and implementors in the
field; actually, there are already discussions asking if AI can truly replace teachers or not (see,
Felix, 2020).
It is evident that AI technology has many concerns (Stahl B. C., 2021a, 2021b), and like other
sectors, the education sector is also facing challenges (Hax, 2018). If not all the issues/problems
directly affect education and learning, most directly or indirectly impact the education process.
So, it is difficult to decide whether AI has a positive ethical impact on education or negative or
somewhat positive or negative. The debate on ethical concerns about AI technology will continue
from case to case and context to context (Petousi and Sifaki, 2020). This research is focused on
the following three moral of AI in education:

1. Impact on academic performance

2. Balancing aid with Academic Integrity
3. Equity and Inclusivity

Although many other concerns about AI exist in education, these three are the most common
and challenging in the current era.

Exploring the impact of artificial intelligence integration on academic performance in STEM

education is paramount. This exploration delves into empirical evidence, practical
recommendations, and insights regarding the integration of AI tools like ChatGPT. Such tools have
shown promise in enhancing academic performance by offering personalized learning
experiences that bolster comprehension, critical thinking, and creativity among students.

Through identifying the ethical considerations surrounding AI in education, a solution emerges to

balance AI's aid with academic integrity. Educators can navigate these considerations by
implementing actionable insights, ensuring responsible and ethical AI use in classrooms. By
upholding ethical standards, educators can optimize the benefits of AI technologies while
maintaining academic integrity.

Finally, the purpose of this study is to advance understanding of how AI can promote equity and
inclusivity in education. By catering to diverse student populations' unique learning needs,
reducing educational disparities, and fostering equal opportunities, AI-powered adaptive learning
systems contribute to creating more inclusive learning environments. This endeavor is essential
for promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM education and informing policy and practice
in educational settings.