The Missing "Why" in Gen AI Conversations in Higher Education: A Call for a Shift in the Conversation

In social media and academic conferences, conversations revolve around what Gen AI can do—automating tasks, generating text, creating artwork—and how to implement AI effectively in higher education. Yet, there's a glaring omission in all the conversations: the "why." Why are we even talking about Gen AI in the first place? Why should higher education care? In my observation, not enough participants are discussing the more profound, systemic challenges universities face, and how Gen AI might offer solutions (or complicate them). It's important to note that Gen AI, if integrated thoughtfully, has the potential to address these challenges and transform the educational landscape for the better.

To understand the role of Gen AI in higher education, we need to zoom out and look at the larger context. What are the issues in higher education today, and why should we ask whether Gen AI is the answer?

Accessibility and Equity in Education

One of the most pressing issues facing higher education is accessibility. Universities are traditionally structured around a campus model that requires students to be physically present, access high-cost learning materials, and navigate complex financial aid and admissions systems. These barriers disproportionately impact underrepresented and economically disadvantaged students.

Why Gen AI matters: Generative AI can democratize access to education. AI-driven platforms can create personalized learning experiences at scale, offer demanding tutoring, and provide students with tailored educational resources that were once only available to those who could afford them. For example, AI can generate personalized study guides, assist non-native speakers with language translation, or offer real-time feedback on student work. However, more than "how" to implement these tools, the discussion should center around why we must close these equity gaps and how AI might help.

The Crisis of Rising Costs

Tuition fees and the cost of materials have skyrocketed, leaving many students in debt for decades after graduation. Institutions grapple with financial constraints, budget cuts, and an ever-increasing expectation to do more with less. This unsustainable financial burden forces universities to rethink how they deliver education.

Why Gen AI matters: Generative AI can help institutions become more cost-efficient. Whether automating administrative tasks (like grading assignments), generating instructional content, or reducing the cost of textbooks and learning materials through open-source AI-generated resources, Gen AI offers a potential remedy to financial pressures. However, we should ask why universities are under such pressure to cut costs and whether AI is the right tool to solve these problems without compromising the quality of education.

Changing Student Expectations

The generation of students now entering higher education have different expectations than those previous before them. I observe my young niece and I marvel at how she easily navigates through her tablet device. They are probably expecting education to be as personalized and instantaneous as the apps they use daily. Traditional lecture-based learning models and long feedback cycles may no longer match their expectations for immediacy and customization.

Why Gen AI matters: Gen AI's strength lies in its ability to offer personalized, adaptive learning experiences. AI can help create tailored coursework that responds to a student's progress in real time or generates content that aligns with a student's interests and learning style. But again, the discussion should focus on why student expectations are shifting and whether AI is the right tool to meet these new demands without sacrificing deeper educational goals.

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism

With increased reliance on online education, maintaining academic integrity has become more challenging. The rise of AI-generated content is making it even harder to detect instances of plagiarism or cheating, creating a crisis in maintaining standards of academic honesty.

Why Gen AI matters: Gen AI poses both a threat and a solution to the integrity problem. On one hand, students can use AI to produce assignments, potentially bypassing genuine learning. Conversely, AI-driven plagiarism detection tools can help institutions uphold academic standards. We must ask why academic integrity is being increasingly challenged and how Gen AI might contribute to (or mitigate) these challenges. Should AI be viewed solely as a regulatory mechanism, or can it foster more effective engagement with learning material?

Faculty Workloads and Burnout

Faculty, at least at my university and what I read on social media, face unsustainable workloads, juggling teaching, research, and administrative tasks. The demands of digital education during the pandemic and post- have only added to their burden, leading to increased burnout and attrition.

Why Gen AI matters: Automating routine tasks like grading or content creation can free up faculty time, allowing them to focus more on research and high-impact student interactions. However, we should also ask why faculty members are facing such burnout. Is it a structural issue within academia itself, or are the expectations for faculty unrealistic? How can Gen AI sustainably alleviate these pressures?

The Relevance of Traditional Curriculum

The world is changing faster than ever, and many argue that traditional higher education cannot keep pace. Students are looking for education relevant to the digital age, preparing them for jobs that didn't exist a decade ago while equipping them with critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Why Gen AI matters: Gen AI can help generate up-to-date content with the latest developments, from coding tutorials to business strategies. It can also simulate complex scenarios for students to work through, bringing practical, real-world learning into the classroom. However, we need to ask why higher education struggles to stay relevant in the first place. Is it due to bureaucratic inertia or the sheer speed of technological change? Should AI help universities accelerate curriculum development, or does it threaten to turn education into a factory-like process?

Future-Proofing Students

As we look towards a future where AI will play a significant role in every sector, universities are under pressure to prepare students with knowledge and the skills to adapt to an AI-driven world. Critical thinking, creativity, and ethical reasoning will be in high demand.

Why Gen AI matters: Generative AI has the potential to enhance critical thinking by exposing students to multiple perspectives and offering scenarios that challenge their reasoning, but we should also be discussing why higher education should be responsible for future-proofing students in this way, and whether AI will help or hinder this goal. Does relying on AI to teach critical thinking make sense, or should we be wary of over-dependence on technology?

Conclusion: The Real Conversation We Should Be Having

While it's exciting to explore what Gen AI can do and how to implement it in universities, the more crucial conversation is why we should be integrating AI into higher education in the first place. By focusing on the underlying issues—equity, cost, changing student needs, academic integrity, faculty burnout, and future-proofing students—we can ensure that Gen AI isn't just another buzzword or quick fix but a thoughtful, intentional tool that addresses the real needs of education today.

In short, the conversation about Gen AI in higher education shouldn't just be about what and how but also why it matters and how it can genuinely transform the educational landscape for the better.