The spread of AI has structurally transformed the learning experiences and overall teaching and evaluation methods in higher education, thereby advancing new transitions. While taking root as a universal learning tool that promotes efficiency and creativity, AI has also introduced issues such as cognitive reliance and career uncertainty. According to a recent KRIVET survey, many university students are finding AI to be helpful with their academic efficiency and creative task performance but are concerned about downsides such as excessive reliance, plagiarism and copyright infringement, and competency degradation. Whereas they have relatively low AI learning anxiety, they show high anxiety about job replacement and sociotechnical risk. While embracing AI as a learning tool, they maintain a critical view of its social and ethical repercussions. Education providers must go beyond pursuing efficiency and focus on expanding opportunities to nurture critical thinking and creative problem-solving abilities in learners and developing institutional measures to ease competency degradation and anxiety about technological reliance.