Silicon and Ivory: How Will AI Reshape Universities?

Abstract

This reflection examines artificial intelligence's impact on higher education, particularly the evolving relationship between faculty and students that has defined universities since mediaeval times. This paper analyses how AI tutoring systems or generative AI challenge traditional academic structures. Whilst optimists herald AI's potential for democratising knowledge, personalising learning, and enhancing research capabilities, significant concerns emerge regarding skills atrophy, widening global educational inequalities, and ethical dilemmas surrounding academic integrity. The reflection critiques AI's energy consumption, copyright infringement, and potential job displacement in academia. Despite predictions of universities' obsolescence, this paper argues that institutions must critically embrace AI whilst preserving the essential human bonds between educators and learners. The emergence of what might be termed the 'Universit-AI' requires careful navigation between technological advancement and maintaining universities' core mission of developing critical thinking and serving the common good. Universities must maintain their agency through adaptation rather than resistance to ensure their continued relevance.