Navigating the Role of AI in Research in the Global South: A Collective Autoethnography From Researchers in the Philippines, Iraq, and Malaysia

Abstract

This paper investigates the transformative impact and ethical dilemmas of integrating artificial intelligence into the workflows of researchers from the Global South, specifically the Philippines, Iraq, and Malaysia. Through collective autoethnography, the authors analyze how AI tools function as both equalizers and disruptors in resource-constrained academic environments. The findings reveal that AI significantly enhances productivity by dismantling language barriers for non-native English speakers, streamlining literature searches, and democratizing access to global scholarship. However, these benefits are accompanied by profound challenges, including the risk of over-reliance, the proliferation of AI hallucinations, and the potential erosion of critical thinking skills. The authors confront the tension between efficiency and intellectual integrity, grappling with the existential question of whether reliance on AI reduces scholars to mere prompt engineers. Furthermore, the paper highlights how algorithmic bias and infrastructure disparities exacerbate the digital divide within local academic communities. The paper concludes that while AI offers unprecedented opportunities for Global South researchers, it requires a shift toward critical AI literacy and ethical governance to prevent the widening of existing knowledge gaps. This study calls for a human-centric approach where AI serves as a support mechanism.