Artificial Intelligence: Legal, Ethical, and Policy Implications for Higher Education

Abstract This article explores the potential benefits and ethical and legal challenges associated with the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in academia, particularly in higher education. The authors examine how AI functions, its various applications in academic settings such as admissions, research, and writing, and the potential biases inherent in AI systems. They also discuss the legal issues surrounding copyright and patent protection in the age of AI, particularly in light of the current debate regarding human authorship and AI-generated content. The authors ultimately argue that greater transparency, ethical training, and law and policy changes will be needed to ensure that AI is used in higher education in a way that is both beneficial and fair.