Ethical Problems in the Use of Artificial Intelligence by University Educators

This study examines the ethical problems of using artificial intelligence (AI) applications in higher education, focusing on activities performed by university educators. Drawing on Slovak legislation that defines educators’ responsibilities, the study classifies their activities into three categories: teaching, scientific research, and other (academic management and self-directed professional development). From standpoint of methodology, a thematic review of 42 open-access, peer-reviewed articles published between 2022 and 2025 was conducted across the Web of Science and Scopus databases. Relevant AI applications and their associated ethical issues were identified and thematically categorized. Results of this study show that AI applications are extensively used across all analysed areas of university educators’ activities. Most notably used are applications that are generative language models, editing and paraphrasing tools, learning and assessment software, management and search tools, visualizing and design tools, and analysis and management systems. Their adoption raises ethical concerns which can be thematically grouped into six categories: privacy and data protection, bias and fairness, transparency and accountability, autonomy and oversight, governance gaps, and integrity and plagiarism. The results provide universities with a structured analytical framework to assess and address ethical risks related to AI use in specific academic activities. Although the study is limited to open-access literature, it offers a conceptual foundation for future empirical research and the development of ethical, institutionally grounded AI policies in higher education.