Artificial intelligence and higher education - enemies or allies

The development of artificial intelligence (AI) has become one of the most discussed topics in 2023. According to sociological surveys, the awareness of Russians in the field of AI and their willingness to use new technologies have grown. The leap in the development of neural networks, chatbots and AI technologies in general has already affected many areas of life, and the education system is no exception. Teachers face many challenges related to the regulation of the AI application in the educational process. On the one hand, issues of regulating the use of AI technologies in universities require a scrupulous study which is complicated by the speed of technological development. On the other hand, in addition to official regulations, it is necessary to solve more global and labor-intensive tasks: to unlock the potential of AI in the educational process; analyze the ethical side of the issue and develop the culture of using new technologies; adapt educational materials and assignments based on the possible application of AI by students; change curricula and revise the competency system, etc. The article considers ways to use AI technologies in the educational process as perceived by teachers and students. The author emphasizes both constructive and destructive capabilities of new technologies, the challenges that universities will face in the near future, and the positions of university representatives on these issues. The author believes that the use of AI technologies in education can benefit both teachers and students in sociology and other areas. It is impossible to stop the development of technologies; any attempts to hinder them are counterproductive; therefore, it is necessary to reconsider the established educational approaches according to the requirements of our time.