A growing number of university professors are integrating artificial intelligence into their daily work, using the technology for tasks ranging from curriculum development to administrative support. New data reveals that while AI is seen as a major time-saver for lesson planning, its use in grading student work is raising significant concerns among educators about the future of higher education.
Key Takeaways
- A national survey shows nearly 30% of university instructors now use generative AI on a daily or weekly basis, a sharp increase from just 4% in 2023.
- Research from AI company Anthropic found that 57% of AI use by educators was for curriculum development, such as creating lesson plans and assignments.
- Grading student work with AI is a controversial application, with some experts warning it could undermine the educational process.
- Many professors report a lack of formal guidance from their institutions on how to use AI tools responsibly.
AI Adoption Surges in Higher Education
The use of generative artificial intelligence among university faculty has expanded dramatically over the past year. According to a national survey by consulting firm Tyton Partners, the rate of adoption has seen a significant jump. The study, which included over 1,800 higher education staff members, found that approximately 30% of instructors now use generative AI daily or weekly.
This figure represents a substantial increase from the spring of 2023, when only 4% of instructors reported using the technology with such frequency. The data suggests a rapid integration of AI tools into the core functions of teaching and academic administration.
G. Sue Kasun, a professor of language, culture, and education at Georgia State University, is among the educators who have embraced these tools. She uses Google's Gemini chatbot to brainstorm ideas for course readings and activities, saving valuable time.
Rapid Growth in AI Use
According to Tyton Partners, weekly or daily AI use among university administrators grew from 2% in spring 2023 to about 40% in early 2025. For instructors, the figure rose from 4% to nearly 30% in the same period.
"There were suggestions of offering different choices like having students generate an image, having students write a poem," Kasun explained. "These are things that I could maybe think of but we have limits on our time, which is probably our most valuable resource as faculty." She also uses AI to help create grading rubrics but emphasizes the need for careful review to ensure accuracy and alignment with her course objectives.
How Professors Are Using AI Tools
New research from Anthropic, the company behind the AI model Claude, provides a detailed look at how educators are applying this technology. The study analyzed approximately 74,000 conversations initiated by users with higher education email addresses over an 11-day period.
Curriculum and Research Dominate
The analysis revealed that curriculum development was the most common application, accounting for 57% of the conversations. This included tasks like designing lesson plans, creating assignments, and developing course materials. The second most frequent use, at 13%, was for academic research.
A Snapshot of AI in Academia
The Anthropic study was conducted over an 11-day period in late May and early June 2025. Researchers noted that the timing, at the end of the academic year, might have influenced the types of tasks professors were performing with AI.
Drew Bent, education lead at Anthropic and a researcher on the study, noted that some professors are even using AI for more advanced tasks. "It's helping write the code so that you can have an interactive simulation that you as an educator can share with students in your class for them to help understand a concept," he said.
Administrative work, including drafting recommendation letters, creating meeting agendas, and managing budgets, was another significant area where professors turned to AI for assistance. The research suggests that while educators tend to automate routine tasks, they use AI more collaboratively for complex work like lesson design.
The Controversy Around AI-Powered Grading
While course design is a popular use for AI, the practice of using it to grade student work is far more contentious. Anthropic's data showed that about 7% of conversations were related to grading. This application is a point of concern for some academics who worry about its impact on the educational process.
"This sort of nightmare scenario that we might be running into is students using AI to write papers and teachers using AI to grade the same papers. If that's the case, then what's the purpose of education?"
Marc Watkins, a lecturer and researcher at the University of Mississippi who studies AI's role in higher education, expressed alarm at the trend. He argues that automating feedback and evaluation devalues the crucial relationship between professors and students.
Interestingly, a related survey conducted by Anthropic in partnership with Northeastern University found that faculty themselves were skeptical of AI's grading abilities. Of the 22 faculty members surveyed, they reported that grading was the task at which the Claude chatbot was least effective.
A Call for Institutional Guidance
Despite the rapid adoption of AI, many faculty members feel they are navigating this new technological landscape without a map. Professor Kasun from Georgia State University, who uses AI for planning but not for grading, highlighted the lack of institutional support.
"We are here, sort of alone in the forest, fending for ourselves," Kasun stated, wishing for more guidance from colleges and universities on best practices for using AI ethically and effectively.
This sentiment is echoed by technology developers. Drew Bent of Anthropic cautioned against a top-down approach from tech companies. "Us as a tech company, telling educators what to do or what not to do is not the right way," he said, suggesting that collaboration between tech firms and educational institutions is essential.
As AI tools become more integrated into academia, educators and researchers agree that the decisions made today will have a lasting impact on students and the nature of learning for years to come. The challenge lies in harnessing AI's potential to save time and enhance teaching without compromising the integrity of the educational experience.