GenAI as an Educational Gatekeeper: Balancing Personalisation and Standardisation in Higher Education

This article examines the role of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) as a gatekeeper in higher education, particularly in distance learning. GenAI is being increasingly integrated into learning environments, reshaping knowledge access through intelligent tutoring, AI-driven support, adaptive learning, and automated assessment. While these innovations have the potential to enhance student experiences and learning flexibility, they also shift control over knowledge from educators to proprietary AI systems. Drawing on gatekeeping theory, this study explores how AI-driven content selection risks fragmenting learning experiences, reinforcing biases, and creating inconsistencies in academic standards. By comparing AI’s role in education to the evolution of algorithmic gatekeeping in media, we highlight the implications of AI-powered personalisation on academic autonomy, equity, and standardisation. This paper identifies key challenges in AI-driven education, such as the prioritisation of engagement over pedagogical value, the loss of institutional control over knowledge dissemination, and the potential of erosion of epistemic diversity. Finally, we propose strategies to ensure that AI support, rather than undermines academic integrity, including enhanced governance frameworks, educator oversight, and AI transparency measures.