Abstract:
This research explored the use of QuillBot, an AI-based paraphrasing tool, as an
assistant in academic writing among the 8th - semester students of the English
Education Department at Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara. It identified
the pitfalls and potentials of using QuillBot from the students' perspective. A
qualitative descriptive approach was used, with data collected through semi
structured interviews with 20 participants. The findings showed that most students
felt QuillBot significantly improved the quality of writing by improving sentence
structure, vocabulary, and grammar while helping to prevent plagiarism. However,
the research also found that 4 out of 20 respondents had concerns about potential
over-reliance on the use of QuillBot, which could hinder the development of
independent writing skills and critical thinking. In addition, issues such as
inaccuracies in paraphrasing and the risk of producing generic sentences were also
noted. Future research should consider the long-term effects of using AI tools in
academic settings and will explore strategies to maximize their benefits while
reducing their potential disadvantages.
