TECHNOLOGY becomes educationally valuable not when it removes effort, but when it strengthens curiosity, judgment and collaboration. This distinction should guide Pakistan’s universities as artificial intelligence (AI) moves from the margins of academic life into the mainstream of higher education. The question confronting university leaders is no longer whether AI belongs in education. It is whether its integration will produce graduates who think independently, exercise sound judgment and solve meaningful problems—or simply become more efficient at generating answers. A recent UNESCO discussion at its headquarters, bringing together 700 students and experts, highlighted that digital access alone does not guarantee learning. Students need guidance to question information, verify sources, recognize bias and take responsibility for their intellectual development. Technology can expand human capabilities, but cannot replace human reflection. Pakistan has taken an important step towards integrating AI into higher education, with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) announcing a mandatory three-credit-hour AI course for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes from the 2026 academic session. However, curriculum changes alone cannot transform learning. The challenge is ensuring AI develops intellectual capabilities rather than simply helping students generate assignments and ready-made answers.

Consider a physics student investigating renewable energy. AI can explain photovoltaic principles, suggest research questions and help organize........

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