Education drives nations’ intellectual capacity and prosperity, so building education systems that nurture and value unique intelligence is crucial. The special status of education is why generative AI tools are disrupting this sector. 

According to McKinsey’s report, generative AI can benefit all sectors, with the education sector potentially gaining over $5 billion.

However, as AI advances, ethical concerns about its integration are becoming more prominent. Education is among the sectors raising the most alarm, with institutions fearing AI may hinder students’ ability to develop original ideas and critical thinking skills. As technology becomes increasingly common among students, worries about its impact on academic integrity persist.

THE INTEGRATION OF AI 

Heba Ghoneim, an Associate Professor of Economics at The German University in Cairo and Associate Editor of the African Review of Economics and Finance, says AI’s capacity to process vast amounts of data rapidly is a transformative force in education, presenting significant opportunities and challenges.

She explains that AI offers several benefits, including streamlining academic research by rapidly analyzing complex questions. It also allows for the inexpensive generation of large test banks and supports writing development through feedback and suggestions. However, this transformation poses challenges, particularly for fostering students’ independent research skills.

“Educators face the dilemma of ensuring that students remain motivated to actively seek knowledge and develop critical thinking abilities, rather than passively relying on AI tools for immediate answers,” she adds.

Vanessa Northway, Executive Director for Education & Student Life at Heriot-Watt University Dubai, says AI can impact higher education by personalizing learning experiences through adaptive technologies that cater to individual student needs.

“It can also enable educators to offer tailored feedback and analyze learning patterns to improve teaching methods. AI-powered tools can significantly streamline assessments with automated grading systems, freeing more interactive and creative teaching time,” Northway says. “AI can also potentially increase engagement in higher education by nurturing immersive learning environments, such as virtual simulations.”

ETHICAL CONCERNS 

Although AI brings innovation to higher education, it has also sparked unprecedented concerns about plagiarism. Universities are now facing the challenge of detecting AI use in student assignments, a task complicated by the high margin of error associated with current detection platforms.

Seventeen-year-old political science student Nadine Saleh, new to university life, says she and many of her peers rely on AI for academic work. She explains that university grading, which emphasizes assignments over exams, makes relying on generative AI platforms like ChatGPT and Gemini easier.

Saleh admits to using AI for tasks ranging from minor edits to generating entire sections of her work, particularly when facing tight deadlines. “I can feel that with time, I’ve become much more reliant on AI than I was in school,” Saleh says. Instead of figuring out the correct phrasing for my essays, I now rely immediately on AI to do the work for me.” She feels her writing ability is declining.

Northway says that these innovative solutions, however, come with a price. What looks like instant solutions can discourage students from independent problem-solving if they over-relied upon it as anything more than a tool to help the inquiry. “The key lies in integrating AI as a tool for augmenting & prompting ideas that are then critically analyzed – supporting creative thinking rather than replacing it, emphasizing its role in enhancing, not diminishing, intellectual exploration & integrity.”

Ghoneim notes that students are inclined to seek the path of least resistance when acquiring knowledge, a trend observed for some time. 

“Over the years, I have witnessed many students prefer copying and pasting information rather than engaging in independent thinking and problem-solving. With the evolution of AI, this tendency is expanding, as AI tools provide quick, convenient answers,” she explains. 

Therefore, it’s crucial for students to critically evaluate AI-generated information critically, actively synthesizing it rather than passively accepting answers. Ghoneim believes that while AI can expose students to diverse perspectives and methodologies, they must research using various methods and sources.

“This approach will encourage them to develop original thought and critical thinking skills rather than merely relying on AI for convenience,” she says. “AI has the potential to complement the learning process by fostering a deeper understanding, but it must be used in a way that encourages active engagement and intellectual independence.”

Ghoneim stresses that academics are responsible for guiding students in using AI as a tool to enhance their understanding and broaden their perspectives, not as a replacement for their intellectual work. AI should be used to expand knowledge and explore diverse viewpoints.

AVOIDING ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

Northway explains that ethical AI implementation in education requires transparency and clear usage guidelines. Institutions must educate students and faculty on responsible AI use and reinforce academic integrity policies that discourage academic dishonesty.

“Software that detects plagiarism is already in widespread use by higher education institutions and beyond, and institutions must keep abreast of different ways to embed AI use as a tool and not as a one-stop-shop for academic submissions,” she says.

She adds that collaboration with educators to develop ethical frameworks and policies, alongside using AI for monitoring, ensures it supports, rather than undermines, fair learning and assessment.

Ghoneim shares her teaching experience, describing an assignment she designed to promote critical engagement with AI while upholding academic integrity. She presented students with a debate question and asked them to input it into ChatGPT. 

They then used the AI’s response as a starting point, adding supporting data, statistics, and real-world examples to support or challenge the AI’s perspective. This structure ensured active engagement with the material.

“By integrating AI in this way, students are encouraged not only to critically evaluate the information provided but also to substantiate their arguments with independent research,” she explains. “This approach fosters a deeper understanding of the subject matter while mitigating the risks of academic dishonesty.”

FUTURE OF HIGHER EDUCATION

Saleh believes that AI will likely become undetectable in assignments as it becomes more sophisticated. She fears newer generations may become entirely reliant on technology, potentially losing essential writing, reading, critical thinking, and creative skills.

Ghoneim foresees AI playing a central role in shaping the future of education, streamlining administrative tasks, and transforming teaching and learning.

“History and experience show that while it is often tempting to resist new technological advancements, in the end, society tends to adopt and adapt to them, finding ways to benefit from their capabilities,” she elaborates. “AI, much like previous technological innovations, will inevitably become an integral part of education, both within curricula and academic research.”

Northway believes AI’s role in education will likely expand, making learning more accessible, engaging, and inclusive. 

“Future developments may include enhanced virtual classrooms, AI tutors capable of addressing diverse learning needs, and immersive technologies for experiential learning – all layered into traditional and contemporary delivery methods. Moreover, AI can assist educators in administrative tasks and provide data-driven insights to improve education systems.”