This narrative literature review examined the multifaceted role of artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education, encompassing its benefits, associated risks, and mitigation strategies, with a particular focus on sub-Saharan Africa. Drawing on a variety of contemporary scholarly sources, the study categorizes AI’s contributions to teaching, research, student support, and institutional governance. Methodologically, the review draws on data from both global and regional literature to present a critical and contextualized perspective on AI’s growing role in higher education. The findings show that AI improves efficiency, enables personalised learning, broadens access, and boosts research productivity. However, it also raises considerable threats, particularly regarding academic integrity, data privacy, algorithmic bias, and epistemic imbalance. These concerns are particularly pronounced in sub-Saharan Africa, where significant infrastructure and policy gaps persist. While AI has transformative potential, its implementation must be ethical, contextually relevant, and inclusive of varied educational contexts. Establishing institutional AI governance frameworks, investing in AI literacy for staff and students, promoting localised tool development, and incorporating student and academic staff perspectives into AI-related decision-making processes are among the recommendations. Finally, the study advocates for a transition from reactive adoption to proactive, equity-driven AI integration in higher education.