Abstract Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force in higher education, influencing teaching, learning, assessment, administration, and student support services. Despite the rapid growth of AI-related research, significant gaps remain in understanding its long-term educational impact, ethical implications, and implementation across diverse institutional contexts. This study presents a research gap analysis of literature published between 2020 and 2026 on AI in higher education. Through a systematic review of existing studies, key themes, trends, opportunities, challenges, and underexplored areas are identified. The findings reveal gaps related to longitudinal evidence, research from developing countries, ethical governance frameworks, faculty readiness, student perspectives, and policy development. Based on these findings, a future research agenda is proposed to guide scholars, practitioners, and policymakers. The study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on AI adoption in higher education and provides directions for more inclusive, ethical, and evidence-based research.
C.R Varuna (Tue,) studied this question.