Research Brief: the Open University’s Critical AI Literacy Framework 2025

Claire Brady

Feb 173 min read

Artificial Intelligence is undoubtedly reshaping education, the workforce, and society at large. Yet, as AI adoption accelerates, a critical gap remains—AI literacy. The Open University’s Critical AI Literacy Framework 2025 offers a timely, structured approach to understanding AI’s opportunities and challenges, particularly in higher education. This report doesn’t just present AI as a tool; it calls for a deeper, more nuanced understanding of how AI influences knowledge creation, decision-making, and power structures.

So, what does this framework mean for higher education professionals? Here are the key takeaways:

1. AI Literacy Is More Than Just Technical Know-How

Many AI training programs focus on how to use AI tools, but the Open University framework takes a broader stance.

It defines AI literacy as a critical competency, encompassing:

Understanding AI’s capabilities and limitations
Recognizing AI bias and ethical concerns
Engaging with AI in a reflective and responsible way

For higher education leaders, this means moving beyond basic AI familiarity to critical engagement—questioning who controls AI, whose voices are amplified or silenced, and how AI shapes knowledge production.

2. The Need for an Inclusive and Ethical AI Approach

AI is not neutral. The report stresses the importance of AI ethics, bias mitigation, and equitable implementation. Higher education professionals must examine how AI influences admissions, grading, research, and student engagement.

Key questions to consider:

Are AI systems reinforcing existing biases in student success metrics?
Is AI used transparently, or are students and faculty unaware of its decision-making role?
How can institutions ensure AI supports, rather than replaces, human-centered education?

Higher education professionals should advocate for AI policies that prioritize transparency, fairness, and inclusivity.

3. AI Should Be a Core Element of Digital Literacy Education

The framework argues that AI literacy should be integrated into digital literacy programs rather than treated as a separate, specialized skill.

Just as students learn to evaluate information online, they must be trained to critically assess AI-generated content, including:

Identifying deepfakes and misinformation
Understanding AI-generated biases in research and media
Recognizing when AI is being used to influence or manipulate

This extends to faculty and staff as well. Professional development should include AI literacy training to help educators and administrators navigate AI-powered tools in teaching, research, and student services.

4. AI in Higher Education: A Shared Responsibility

A key message of the report is that AI literacy is a shared responsibility across institutions. No single department or role should bear the burden of AI oversight.

Instead, universities should create cross-functional AI task forces that include:

IT and data governance experts
Faculty from diverse disciplines
Student affairs professionals
Librarians and digital literacy educators

By fostering collaborative AI literacy efforts, institutions can ensure that students, faculty, and administrators are equipped to engage with AI critically and responsibly.

The Bottom Line for Higher Education Leaders

The Open University’s Critical AI Literacy Framework 2025 is a wake-up call for institutions to move beyond surface-level AI adoption. Instead of simply adding AI to existing workflows, higher education professionals must engage critically, ethically, and reflectively with these technologies.

To start: