SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IN THE ERA OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: DIGITAL COMPETENCIES, EMERGING OPPORTUNITIES, AND CHALLENGES

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to substantiate the essence, structure, and content of researchers’ digital competencies in the age of artificial intelligence and to identify the new opportunities and challenges associated with the use of artificial intelligence technologies in scientific research. To achieve this purpose, a set of theoretical research methods was employed, including analysis and synthesis of scientific literature, comparison, systematization, generalization, and modeling. The findings reveal the impact of artificial intelligence technologies on the transformation of research activities, identify the new opportunities and key challenges of their application, and substantiate the author’s framework of researchers’ digital competencies, comprising information-analytical, technological, research-analytical, communication, ethical, and security components. The study demonstrates that the effective use of artificial intelligence requires the development of cross-cutting related competencies, including AI literacy, prompt engineering, human–AI collaboration, and the interpretation and critical evaluation of AI-generated outputs. It is concluded that the development of researchers’ digital competencies is a prerequisite for ensuring the quality, reliability, academic integrity, and innovativeness of contemporary scientific research.