Key points:
- AI use is on the rise–but so are concerns about ethics
- Baked-in bias or sweet equity: AI’s role in motivation and deep learning
- AI use guide helps students navigate AI in learning
- For more on AI use, visit eCN’s AI in Education hub
AI adoption by higher education professionals for work and personal use has more than doubled over the past year, according to Ellucian in its second annual AI survey report.
In a survey of 445 faculty and administrators from more than 330 institutions across the U.S. and Canada, 93 percent expect to expand their AI use for work purposes over the next two years.
While the use of AI is growing, the survey also shows increasing concerns. The percentage of respondents worried about bias in AI models rose from 36 percent in 2023 to 49 percent in 2024. Similarly, data privacy and security concerns increased from 50 percent in 2023 to 59 percent in 2024. These findings reflect a complex mix of enthusiasm and caution across the industry.
“AI is a game-changer for higher education–it will help institutions operate more efficiently and provide personalized support for learners across their educational journey,” said Laura Ipsen, president and CEO of Ellucian. “Our survey findings show that while adoption is increasing, leaders are rightfully weighing AI’s benefits with careful consideration of privacy, bias, and long-term impact on student outcomes–including the potential impact on student mental health.”
Key survey findings:
Pace of AI adoption and current use
AI adoption in higher education has seen a dramatic increase in the past year.
- 84 percent of respondents reported using AI in either their professional or personal lives – an increase of 32 percentage points over last year.
- AI adoption for personal and professional use surged by 35 percentage points compared to last year with 61 percent using AI in both contexts.
Motivations for AI adoption and its impact on institutions
Efficiency and productivity gains are driving AI adoption, and increased confidence in predictive analytics indicate AI’s pivotal role in enhancing student support and enrollment processes.
- 80 percent of higher education administrators are motivated to adopt AI for improved efficiency and productivity.
- 85 percent predict that AI use cases for engaging with predictive models for enrollment will increase over the next two years, while 83 percent said predictive models for student success.
Barriers to adoption and concerns about AI
Despite growing adoption of AI, concerns about its ethical use remain. Respondents voiced unease around data security, privacy, and the potential for AI to undermine critical thinking and academic integrity.
- 49 percent of respondents indicated concern about bias in AI models, an increase of 13 percentage points year-over-year.
- 59 percent reported concerns about data security and privacy, up 9 percentage points over last year’s results.
- 78 percent of administrators fear AI could negatively impact academic integrity, while 53 percent worry about its effect on critical thinking.
This press release originally appeared online.
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