Fresh Off the Press: ‘Generative AI in Higher Education– The Good, the Bad, the Ugly’

A newly edited volume by EBS Professors Kätlin Pulk and Riina Koris takes a deep dive into the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education. Bringing together more than 20 authors from a myriad of leading universities, from King’s College London and Copenhagen Business School to Essex University and the National Defense College in Washington DC, the book provides a multifaceted exploration of AI’s roles, risks, and potential in academia. EBS Professors Jukka Mäkinen and Katri Kerem have contributed chapters on the social impact of this technology and AI image generation for teachers.

“At the end of 2023, everyone was trying to figure out how to use AI—how to integrate it into teaching and learning, and what the consequences would be for students and teachers,” notes Pulk. “We tried to narrow it down, but there are simply too many questions, from ethical concerns to environmental impact.”

Generative AI in Higher Education: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly doesn’t offer easy answers but instead challenges readers to reflect on the preconceptions that shape the role of AI in this field. “The assumptions individuals hold about the true value of education shape AI’s role in the field,” comments Koris. “How we think about AI affects what we get from it—the risks, the possibilities, and even the outcomes of our learning processes,” adds Pulk.

One of the book’s key insights is that AI adoption in higher education is far from straightforward. “We tend to assume that students are eager to embrace AI, but research shows that many don’t feel comfortable with it and don’t like being pushed aside,” explains Pulk. A dedicated chapter explores how students actually perceive AI and its role in their learning journey.

The book also touches upon AI-generated “hallucinations” (false or misleading outputs), provides an in-depth discussion on the instrumental and philosophical dimensions of AI in education, and a reflection on its role on academic research.

Higher education professionals, students, and researchers looking to understand AI beyond the hype will find this book’s inquiries and insights particularly relevant. Timely observations into how AI can make academic life easier, how researchers can use AI in their work, and how different perspectives on education shape its implementation abound within its pages. As Koris puts it, the book “shows how multifaceted the phenomenon is—it’s not even clear who truly benefits.” That might actually be up to the reader.

This volume is on track to becoming an essential read for anyone interested or impacted by the AI revolution in academia.

Explore The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of AI in Higher Education.