Navigating GenAI in Malaysian Universities: Use, Problems, and Challenges

The growing presence of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in higher education offers promising advantages but also raises critical concerns that deserve close attention. This study explores how GenAI is being used by university communities in Malaysia, with a focus on user behaviour — including usage patterns, motivations, perceived benefits, and perceived risks. Given the limited empirical work in this area, particularly within the Malaysian context, our investigation seeks to provide insights that can inform more thoughtful and responsible integration of AI tools in academia. Using a mixed-methods approach, we collected data from 290 students and academic staff across Malaysian universities. The findings suggest that easy access and reliable, prompt results are major factors encouraging GenAI use. Participants appreciated its ability to save time and enhance problem solving, especially in completing routine academic tasks. However, concerns were also raised — notably around the decline of critical thinking skills, potential for information overload, ethical uncertainties, and increasing dependence on AI. Many respondents pointed out the need for better content verification practices, clearer ethical guidelines, and more institutional support to manage the cognitive demands of frequent GenAI use. Overall, this study highlights the urgent need for universities to develop policies, frameworks, and digital well-being strategies that promote ethical, balanced, and sustainable GenAI use. The findings also lay the groundwork for future research and conceptual models aimed at supporting effective AI adoption in higher education.