With the rapid emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in the academic realm, understanding their implications, advantages, and challenges becomes crucial. ChatGPT, a leading AI conversational model, has gained significant traction in educational settings, warranting a comprehensive investigation into its academic impact. This systematic review aimed to elucidate the current state of research regarding implementing ChatGPT in academic cultures, focusing on its applications, challenges, and potential in reshaping contemporary pedagogies. An exhaustive review of 32 peer-reviewed articles from 2023 encompassed categorizing diverse research fields, journals, and studies. The research then delved into the challenges, factors affecting its use, and the myriad opportunities ChatGPT offers within academic settings. An overwhelming 75% of the studies emphasized the relevance of ChatGPT and generative AI tools within higher education, underscoring its importance. Significant challenges identified included pedagogical integration (31.25%) and student engagement (15.63%). However, ChatGPT's potentially inefficient content creation (25.00%) and enhanced personalized learning (21.88%) presented promising avenues for reshaping educational experiences. Furthermore, the tool's adaptability in catering to diverse student needs and fostering collaborative environments was notable. ChatGPT emerges as a transformative force in academia, with vast potential to revolutionize pedagogical practices. Yet, academic institutions must address inherent challenges to harness their full capabilities. Future directions point towards a symbiotic integration, with AI complementing human educators to promote inclusive, dynamic learning.