The latest development is Macquarie University’s Virtual Peer, an AI chatbot introduced in two psychology units. In the online delivery of these units, some material previously taught through Zoom tutorials is now delivered by the chatbot and other online activities.
The move comes as hundreds of University of Sydney staff walked off the job last week, calling for greater job security as AI teaching tools become more common. Some students have also raised concerns that replacing teaching interactions with AI could devalue their degrees.
AI is being used for a range of teaching purposes across universities. These include tutoring, lecturing, feedback provision, and marking. At the University of Sydney, educators have used the AI platform Cogniti to allow students to get 24/7 feedback on assessments before submission. The University of Wollongong began trialling AI “study buddies” this year across 15 large first-year subjects to provide academic support to new students. La Trobe University’s “Fletch” system plays a disgruntled parent, changing its responses as trainee teachers practise handling difficult conversations. The University of Newcastle has announced an AI avatar will deliver lectures in a computing subject.
The rapid adoption has sparked debate about the appropriate role of AI in higher education, with proponents highlighting efficiency and accessibility, while critics warn of devaluation of human teaching and potential job losses.