The application of new technologies such as Artificial Intelligence in academic research is a growing phenomenon across the globe. This has attracted the attention of researchers with a view to understanding the knowledge and capacity of AI usage in research, the degree of use, purposes and challenges.

Therefore, the focus of this study is to assess the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for research and academic writing among academic staff of Nasarawa State University and the University of Abuja, Nigeria. The objectives of the study are to find out the extent, purposes and challenges of the application of AI in academic writing and research.

Using the Technology Acceptance Model as its theoretical framework, the study adopted the survey design to collect data from 300 respondents through the use of questionnaire administered to staff of the two institutions.

The result showed that the academics use AI to promote the development of ideas and the structuring of research methodologies, reviewing the volume of literature and synthesising them, as well as ease of data collection, sorting and analysis. Further findings also showed among others that AI is useful in terms of coding and analysis of qualitative data, checking Grammarly and spelling, editing and management of data.

AI is important to academic writing and research because it provides academic writers the avenue to break down sentences, understand context, create plausible text, predict how the writer can construct and structure sentences, process large amounts of information, and assists to achieve coherence.

The study concluded that though AI has significantly impacted academic research and writing, its utilisation is still at a moderate level and it is challenged by ethical issues.

The researchers recommended among others that universities, polytechnics and other higher institutions of learning in Nigeria should come up with guidelines that will lead to ethical use of AI for academic writing and research.