<p>Artificial intelligence (AI) is a twenty-first century technological development influencing higher education. The purpose of this review is to establish how a research, policy, and practice nexus in AI adoption might inform the development of a future-proof STEM curriculum for higher education. For this reason, we reviewed scientific research reports and policy and strategy documents from various global agencies. The review discovered that (a) research on AI adoption in STEM higher education focuses on a narrower theme of education and learning; (b) policy frameworks and guidelines do not address the entire higher education system; and (c) AI adoption primarily focuses on curriculum implementation but provides limited support for curriculum design, development, and appraisal or review. Thus, we analysed the challenges of establishing an effective research–policy–practice system for producing future-proof STEM curricula in higher education and proposed system-wide reforms. We also showed some mechanisms for creating a unified framework for AI adoption.</p>