Employing Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education: Its Benefits and Challenges

This research aims to investigate the reality of using artificial intelligence applications in university education from the perspective of faculty members, highlighting its benefits, challenges, and proposed solutions to overcome the associated obstacles. A descriptive approach was adopted, and a questionnaire was designed that included three main axes: the first addressed the potential benefits of artificial intelligence applications in university education; the second focused on the risks facing this use; and the third focused on proposed solutions to address these challenges. The questionnaire was administered to 176 faculty members. The results identified a number of benefits that contribute to improving the quality of education, including enhancing interaction, providing educational environments more adaptable to student needs, and supporting academic evaluation and follow-up processes. Among the most prominent risks identified by the results were overreliance on technology, in addition to challenges related to infrastructure and the ethics of using artificial intelligence in the educational process. The research concluded with several recommendations, including the need to develop a clear
strategic plan to integrate these technologies into university education and to work on developing the digital infrastructure by providing smart devices and interactive platforms that support e-learning. Developing the digital competencies of faculty members through training programs focused on practical aspects and digital ethics, enabling them to employ AI as a supportive, rather than a dominant, tool. Integrating academic courses that prepare students and faculty members to understand the mechanisms of AI and its societal impacts, with a focus on the critical aspects of its uses