ABSTRACT
This paper focuses on the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) regulation and its implications for higher education, emphasising the intersection of technological innovation, ethical considerations, and governance. Tracing AI’s trajectory from foundational theories to mainstream adoption, it describes emerging opportunities alongside critical risks related to privacy, bias, accountability, and intellectual property. Through comparison of global regulatory frameworks such as the EU AI Act and national strategies in Australia, China, Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom, this letter highlights converging principles and persistent gaps in policy enforcement. Particular attention is given to the challenges of integrating AI responsibly within higher education institutions, where issues of academic integrity, authorship, and pedagogical transformation need comprehensive oversight. Accordingly, the paper suggests coordinated institutional strategies, robust legal structures, and ethical safeguards to enhance the effectiveness of AI-integrated university practices while preserving trust, equity, and human-centred values in an increasingly digital academic environment.