Half of U.S. Academics Say Universities Are Unprepared for AI Despite Widespread Use

Artificial intelligence is now deeply embedded in higher education across the United States, but many universities are struggling to manage its impact, according to a new global survey released by Coursera. The report finds that while AI adoption among students and educators is nearly universal, confidence in institutional preparedness and governance remains low.

Coursera’s AI in Higher Education Report, based on responses from more than 4,200 university students and educators across the United States, United Kingdom, India, Mexico, and Saudi Arabia, shows that almost all respondents are using AI tools to personalize learning, receive real-time feedback, and improve productivity. Yet in the U.S., half of those surveyed believe the higher education system is not fully prepared to handle AI’s growing role.

Marni Baker Stein, Chief Content Officer at Coursera, said AI is already delivering tangible benefits on campuses but warned that policy and training gaps remain significant. She noted that only a small proportion of U.S. universities have formal AI policies in place, underscoring the need for clearer governance, stronger faculty training, and more thoughtful implementation to ensure AI expands opportunity rather than undermines trust.

The survey reveals that 78% of U.S. students and educators feel positive about AI’s impact on higher education, slightly below the global average of 81%. At the same time, a higher share of U.S. respondents view AI negatively compared to peers in other countries, and a larger proportion of students report not using AI at all. Only one in five U.S. educators said their institution has a formal AI policy, highlighting a gap between adoption and oversight.

Globally, sentiment toward AI in education remains largely optimistic. Most respondents believe AI can improve exam performance and the overall quality of higher education, and four in five students say AI has positively supported their learning experience. However, usage remains measured, with most students reporting that AI is used for less than half of their academic tasks.

Concerns around academic integrity and degree credibility remain widespread. Nearly two-thirds of respondents across countries believe unregulated AI could undermine the value of degrees, while over a third worry it will increase plagiarism. In the U.S., students expressed heightened concern about AI-enabled cheating, with many viewing it as a significant threat to fairness in assessment.

Educators themselves report limited confidence in managing AI-related risks. Fewer than one-third say they feel confident identifying AI-generated content, and only a quarter believe they have the skills needed to use AI effectively in teaching. The report also highlights a governance and literacy gap, with fewer than one-third of educators globally saying AI literacy has been incorporated into curricula, and nearly a quarter of students admitting they have submitted AI-generated work without disclosure.

Regional differences also emerged. Students and educators in India, Saudi Arabia, and Mexico reported particularly strong positive impacts from AI on learning outcomes, including improved grades and overall academic performance, reflecting varying levels of enthusiasm and institutional readiness across markets.

As AI becomes increasingly embedded in higher education, Coursera argues that universities must move beyond ad hoc adoption and focus on building trust, transparency, and capability. The report calls for greater investment in faculty upskilling, clearer and consistently communicated AI policies, and the integration of AI literacy into teaching, assessment, and research to ensure responsible and effective use of the technology.