Abstract

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into higher education represents a profound paradigm shift, simultaneously offering unprecedented pedagogical opportunities and presenting severe socio-technical challenges. On one hand, AI serves as an educational elixir by facilitating bespoke learning pathways, automating administrative functions, and enabling pervasive tutelage. Conversely, it risks opening a Pandora's box of ethical dilemmas, data privacy vulnerabilities, and exacerbated digital stratification, particularly in socio-economically diverse landscapes like India. This paper critically examines the dual nature of AI in tertiary education, proposing a structured deployment framework designed to maximize instructional efficacy while mitigating inherent systemic inequities. Ultimately, the successful assimilation of AI necessitates rigorous ethical superintendence, ensuring that technology functions as an empowering adjunct rather than a surrogate for human educators.