Abstract: This study examined factors driving the adoption of generative artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT for research writing through an integrated framework combining the Technology Acceptance Model, Task Technology Fit, and Trust in Specific Technology. Responses from 564 researchers in 12 countries were analyzed using a structural equation modeling approach. Intriguingly, perceived usefulness and ease of use were insignificant despite being considered the strongest predictors of behavioral intention in countless studies. Instead, researchers prioritize trusting beliefs and the compatibility between a technology and a task when considering its use. It was also found that trust in the technology has greater explanatory power than task-technology compatibility, and this trust is influenced by beliefs that ChatGPT is a socially and academically accepted tool for manuscript writing. Overall, this study contributes new insights for researchers, funding bodies, publishers, policymakers, and the academic community as they navigate the evolving role of AI in scholarly writing.

Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Generative AI, ChatGPT, Large Language Model, Technology Acceptance, Structural Equation Modeling