With the increasing technological advancements and the problem of information overload, plagiarism has been a debatable issue in academic communities, most especially in higher institutions. A growing number of statistics over the years indicate that students have a positive attitude toward plagiarism while conducting academic research. While student attitudes toward plagiarism are influenced by various factors, this study investigated the relationship between the use of synchronous AI chatbots and attitudes toward plagiarism among Library and Information Studies (LIS) undergraduates in Nigerian universities.

A descriptive survey was conducted. A census of 306 Library and Information Studies (LIS) undergraduates from two universities in Ibadan was conducted. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Frequencies, percentages, averages, and standard deviations were among the descriptive statistics used to summarise the sample's attributes and attitudes towards plagiarism. Inferential statistics were used to examine the relationship between the use of AI chatbots and attitude toward plagiarism. SPSS version 22 was used for all statistical analyses.

The findings indicate that Library and Information Studies (LIS) undergraduates generally demonstrate a negative attitude toward plagiarism. Specifically, the majority of respondents disagreed with statements suggesting that copying others' work is acceptable. AI chatbots such as ChatGPT (54.9%) and Google Assistant (29.1%) were used frequently, with a notable proportion of students reporting daily use. However, the study found no statistically significant correlation between LIS undergraduates' attitudes toward plagiarism and their use of synchronous AI chatbots (df = 273, N = 275, r = .007, p < 0.05). The statistical insignificance suggests that chatbot usage does not appear to influence plagiarism attitudes within this population.

While LIS undergraduates utilize AI chatbots, there is no significant correlation between their attitude toward plagiarism and their use of these tools. Academic integrity should be emphasized in institutions and undergraduates should be educated on the moral application of AI tools and the repercussions of plagiarism.

Keywords: Plagiarism, AI Chatbots, LIS Undergraduates.