Assessing Generative Artificial Intelligence Tools Usage Guidelines at the Top 200 Universities Worldwide

This study aimed to evaluate the guidelines for the use of GenAI tools available on the websites of the world’s top 200 universities. We collected all publicly available guidelines from the websites of the top 200 universities listed in the 2026 QS World University Rankings. These guidelines were evaluated using the same 24-item checklist developed for our 2024 survey of the top 50 universities worldwide. The assessment revealed that 180 institutions have publicly available guidelines. All universities permit the use of GenAI tools under specific conditions. These policies are primarily established by academic bodies that focus on teaching, learning, and innovation. Most guidelines emphasize the use of university-licensed options to enhance data security. The most cited GenAI tools included ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, and Google Gemini (formerly Bard). More than 80% of the guidelines covered academic integrity, the limitations of GenAI tools, data privacy, the integration of GenAI in teaching and assessment, and the need to acknowledge its use. However, the operation of AI algorithms, reporting mechanisms for non-permitted use, documentation of prompts, and adoption of outputs were addressed in fewer than 40% of the guidelines. A comparison with our 2024 data for the subset of 50 universities re-evaluated in 2026 shows progress in guidelines coverage, reflecting institutions’ rapid responses to the evolving AI landscape. Despite the QS top 200’s concentration in wealthy nations, our checklist and findings are actionable for universities across the Global South.