The global education system is on the brink of drastic change. A "State of Higher Education Study 2026" by Lumina Foundation and Gallup revealed that artificial intelligence has already become an integral part of most American students' lives. However, this rapid development is completely at odds with existing university regulations.
According to the study's findings, 57% of students use AI tools weekly or more frequently. 20% use this technology daily. In essence, AI has become a common tool for students, akin to Google or a calculator.
The purposes of use are also very broad. For example, 64% of students turn to artificial intelligence when they don't understand an assignment. 60% use it to check homework. Additionally, 54% of students use AI to edit and improve the quality of texts, while 49% rely on it for generating ideas for coursework and essays.
Interestingly, there is a noticeable gender gap: men use artificial intelligence more actively than women. For instance, among daily users, men constitute 27%, while this figure is 17% for women. AI is particularly popular among students studying business, IT, and engineering.
However, the main problem is that regulations are lagging behind. 53% of students state that artificial intelligence is either prohibited or not recommended at universities. Only 7% of students reported that universities support the use of this technology. Most interestingly, more than half of the students admitted that there are no clear rules regarding AI in the education process.
This situation is not limited to the US. According to the "AI Index 2026" report prepared by Stanford HAI, over 80% of students in the US and 95% in the UK actively use artificial intelligence in their assessments.
Experts view the situation from two perspectives. On one hand, AI saves time and simplifies the learning process. On the other hand, there is a risk of "artificial competence" – meaning students are acquiring skills dependent on the tool rather than genuine knowledge. Without AI, they might struggle to work independently.
The study authors draw a very clear conclusion: students are already living in an AI-driven world, while universities remain stuck in the old system.
Therefore, experts urge educational institutions to abandon strict prohibitions and integrate artificial intelligence in a correct and conscious manner. This means teaching students the culture of working with AI, ethical boundaries, and critical thinking has become the most pressing task of today.
