The Positive and Negative Impacts of Artificial Intelligence on Higher Education: A Systematic Literature Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47941/ejikm.3789Keywords:
Artificial Intelligence, Higher Education, Systematic Literature Review, Adaptive Learning, Educational Technology, AI Ethics.Abstract
Purpose: This study reviews literature on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in higher education to examine its benefits, challenges, and implications for teaching, learning, assessment, and institutional management.
Methodology: A systematic literature review guided by the PRISMA framework was conducted using studies published between 2015 and 2026. Relevant peer-reviewed articles were sourced from major academic databases and analyzed through thematic synthesis.
Findings: The review found that AI enhances personalized learning, student engagement, academic performance, and administrative efficiency. AI applications such as intelligent tutoring systems, chatbots, and predictive analytics improve student support and institutional decision-making. However, concerns relating to data privacy, algorithmic bias, ethical accountability, overreliance on automation, and unequal access to technology remain significant challenges.
Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice, and Policy: The study advances understanding of AI adoption in higher education and highlights the need for ethical governance, digital literacy, and institutional readiness. It recommends strengthening policy frameworks, ensuring equitable access, protecting data privacy, and investing in digital infrastructure and capacity building.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Sidney Kawimbe
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
