Artificial intelligence tools as a means to develop university students’ creativity

In the context of the active transformation of educational spaces through the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), it is essential to train specialists capable of adapting to rapidly changing technological conditions by leveraging creative thinking and developing innovative strategies. Creativity is one of the key skills necessary for the successful activity of future specialists. The study aims to systematize AI tools that possess the functional capabilities to develop university students’ creativity. To achieve this goal, theoretical and empirical research methods were used, namely, document analysis, analysis of pedagogical and methodological literature, generalization of pedagogical experience, observation, indirect individual questioning, formalized and informal conversation, testing, and analysis of activity results. 80 second-year bachelor students of South Ural State University with a technical profile participated in the research. The results of the study justified the feasibility of developing students' creativity using AI tools. The authors proposed a systematization of AI tools, which contains the description of their functional capabilities and examples of practical use. The systematization includes six categories of AI tools: for generating texts, for writing, for mind mapping, for generating images and videos, and for musical accompaniment. These tools can be used to develop students’ creativity across various fields of study at both undergraduate and graduate levels.