Abstract
<title>Abstract</title> <p>The rapid development of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) has transformed medical education by providing students with new opportunities to support learning, academic writing, and problem-solving. Despite its growing adoption worldwide, evidence regarding GenAI use among medical students in Timor-Leste remains limited. This study aims to investigate the patterns of generative artificial intelligence use and students' perceptions of its role in medical learning among eighth-semester medical students at Universidade Católica Timorense (UCT), Timor-Leste.A descriptive cross-sectional study will be conducted among all eighth-semester medical students enrolled at the Faculty of Medicine, Universidade Católica Timorense (UCT). A total sampling technique will be employed, involving all eligible students (N = 76). Data will be collected using a structured online questionnaire distributed through Google Forms. The questionnaire will assess patterns of GenAI use, including types of tools, frequency of use, purposes of use, challenges encountered, and students' perceptions regarding the usefulness, effectiveness, ease of use, trust, and intention to continue using GenAI in medical learning. Descriptive statistics will be used to summarize the findings. The study is expected to demonstrate that GenAI has become an important supplementary learning tool among medical students. Most participants are anticipated to report positive perceptions regarding its usefulness and effectiveness while also recognizing challenges such as information accuracy and the need for critical evaluation of AI-generated content. The findings of this study are expected to provide baseline evidence on the adoption of GenAI in undergraduate medical education in Timor-Leste. The results may assist educators and policymakers in developing strategies for the responsible and effective integration of artificial intelligence into medical education.</p>