Artificial intelligence has become a routine part of college life, even as many institutions struggle to set clear rules for its use. New research from Lumina Foundation and Gallup finds that a majority of college students now use AI tools such as ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, and Google Gemini for their coursework at least weekly, including many students at schools that discourage or prohibit their use.
The Lumina Foundation-Gallup State of Higher Education study, based on a survey of nearly 4,000 associate and bachelor’s degree students, finds that 57% use AI daily or weekly for schoolwork, while just 13% say they never use it. Yet more than half of students (53%) say their institution discourages or prohibits AI use in coursework, and 52% report that at least some of their classes lack clear guidance on specific use policies.