Smart Learning: Ethics, Equity, and the Challenges of Artificial Intelligence at Latin American Universities.

Abstract

In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has rapidly emerged in Latin American higher education. This article aims to critically reflect on how AI, is being implemented in Latin American higher education institutions, based on an analysis of its pedagogical, ethical, training, and institutional management implications, in a context characterized by technological inequalities and emerging and heterogeneous regulatory frameworks. To develop this study, a systematic documentary review and critical analysis of recent academic sources, regional reports, and international comparative studies were conducted to consider the trends, opportunities, limitations, and risks associated with the use of AI in teaching, research, and university administration. The analysis reveals that, although teachers and students have a largely positive perception of its use, there is also a sense of uncertainty and misinformation, as they face structural challenges related to connectivity, training, institutional ethics, and a lack of regulatory frameworks. This has led to an uneven implementation compared to other regions of the world, which in turn widens the digital and educational divide. For the implementation of AI in Higher Education to be effective, it must be governed by ethical principles and a critical vision that prioritizes comprehensive training, technological equity, and the strengthening of institutional policies adapted to the Latin American context.