Artificial Intelligence as a Key Tool in Knowledge Generation Processes in Higher Education

Abstract

To conduct a documentary review of literature focused on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) as a tool in knowledge generation processes in higher education, analyzing its impact, challenges, and ethical aspects, in a period of time established between 2020 and 2025. The methodology used is a documentary review with interpretive synthesis, a model that allows for the selection of literature. In this case, search engines such as Scopus, Redalyc, and Mendeley were used, 40 articles were found, and Excel was used to process the information and create tables. The analysis identified several AI tools, including Chat GPT, Copilot, Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITS), Turnitin AI, GPZero, Random Forest, Research Rabbit, Scispacet, and Rayyan (among others). On the other hand, the main challenges for higher education institutions are addressed, such as training teachers and students and the impact on resistance to change, as it is a disruptive incremental innovation. Ethical issues regarding the provision of information from AI are analyzed, although work still needs to be done on the content, without forgetting that the main input is the human being. Ten perceptions of ethics in different universities in Latin America, Spain, and the Netherlands are analyzed. It is clear that AI is becoming another fundamental tool for the entire HEI environment, which in turn will have a major impact on continuous improvement and involves all actors in the system. The great challenge now is to begin implementing procedures and building trust in order to address the immersion of this technology in academic training spaces.