AI-Generated Content and Academic Integrity in Higher Education: Challenges and Solutions

The advent of Generative AI (GenAI) tools like ChatGPT and Google Bard has transformed academic content creation, offering both opportunities and risks. While useful for learning and productivity, misuse raises concerns about academic integrity. This study explores the implications of AI-generated content in higher education, combining literature review and a Python-based detection tool. Using NLP techniques perplexity scoring, stylometry, and transformer classifiers the hybrid model achieved 88% accuracy in identifying AI-written texts. Results show AI content can meet academic standards, especially for lower-order cognitive tasks, challenging traditional evaluation methods. The paper also addresses ethical concerns, limitations of detection tools, and the need for clear institutional policies. Recommendations include integrating AI-use guidelines, educator training, and promoting digital ethics among students. The findings underscore the urgency for proactive, policy-driven responses to safeguard the authenticity of academic achievement in the age of intelligent systems.