Purpose <p>The integration of artificial Intelligence (AI) into educational settings has gained significant attention due to its potential to enhance learning experiences, increase student engagement, and improve academic performance. Rapid advancements in information technologies including AI, in the domain of social sciences education has broadened the scope of research on evaluating the functions of AI in improving academic engagement and thereby performance.</p> Research method <p>This study employed a mixed method approach to understand the impact of AI on student engagement and performance. The primary data collection tool was a structured questionnaire distributed via an online platform (Google Forms), using a survey-based approach to gather data on the impact of AI in education. Further, the data was also qualitatively analyzed based on the feedback received by the respondents.</p> Findings <p>These findings are exploratory in nature and should be interpreted as indicative trends rather than conclusive evidence, given the scope and context of the study. Key findings indicate that while AI tools are moderately used in social sciences and perceived as beneficial for individual tasks such as personalized learning and real-time feedback, their effectiveness in group projects and collaborative learning is limited. Students with higher academic performance and those from higher-income backgrounds were more likely to view AI tools favorably and utilize them effectively. However, challenges such as over-reliance on AI and the lack of effectiveness in conflict resolution within group settings were noted.</p> Originality <p>This is the original work of the authors.</p>