Artificial intelligence integration in higher education: a global systematic thematic synthesis of opportunities, risks, and emerging frontiers

Artificial Intelligence (AI), and particularly Generative AI (GenAI), is increasingly influencing higher education in diverse ways, presenting an evolving duality of transformative potential and multifaceted challenges. This systematic thematic synthesis examines the promises and perils of AI in higher education (AIHEd), drawing on a systematically searched body of peer-reviewed literature published between December 2023 and January 2026. The search was conducted across Semantic Scholar and supplemented by targeted queries in Scopus and Web of Science, yielding 53 articles that met the inclusion criteria. Through a thematic synthesis informed by hermeneutic interpretation, eleven prominent themes were identified: (1) the navigation of AI integration challenges; (2) pervasive ethical concerns including bias, privacy, and misinformation; (3) the reconceptualization of assessment and academic integrity; (4) the fostering of meaningful student engagement; (5) balancing AI writing support against skill erosion; (6) addressing the persistent digital divide and the emerging AI equity gap; (7) enhancing educator and institutional preparedness; (8) managing Generative AI-specific risks including hallucination; (9) the balance of benefits against risks; (10) evolving human-AI interaction dynamics; and (11) the emerging frontier of agentic AI and autonomous learning systems. Regional comparative analysis reveals noteworthy divergences in policy, regulatory emphasis, and institutional response across North America, Europe, the Asia-Pacific (including Australia and New Zealand), Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. The findings underscore that AI’s educational impact is not determined by technology alone, but by the pedagogical framing, ethical governance, and institutional support structures that surround its deployment. Institutions may need to prioritise strategic policy development, robust ethical frameworks, sustained faculty development, and targeted equity interventions to maximise the benefits of AI while safeguarding its humanistic mission.