TRANSFORMATION AND CHALLENGES: THE INTEGRATION OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION

Abstract

The present study investigated the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in distance higher education, aiming to understand its implications for educational practice. The objective was to analyze how AI is being adopted in higher education institutions and identify the main advantages and challenges of this integration. The research, of a bibliographic nature, followed the methodology proposed by Lakatos and Marconi (2001), analyzing data collected from sources such as Google Scholar, Scielo, and Academia.edu. The analysis was based on works by renowned authors in the field of education and technology, such as Luckin et al. (2016), who discussed the use of AI to personalize learning in virtual environments. Carmona, Furtado, and Cortês (2021) explored AI in preventing school dropout, while Teles and Nagumo (2023) addressed economic and access challenges related to AI in higher education. The research also highlighted UFLA's experience in continuous teacher training, integrating AI into the educational process. It was concluded that AI has significant potential to transform distance higher education, offering personalization and efficiency. However, it also faces challenges related to ethical, economic, and accessibility issues. This study underscored the need for balanced approaches that maximize the benefits of AI, ensuring inclusive and quality education.