AI is becoming more common in uni courses. What can students gain and what might they lose?

Universities are increasingly introducing artificial intelligence (AI) teaching tools into classrooms.

The latest case to make headlines 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 AI chatbot and other online activities.

This 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 practice.

Meanwhile, some students have also raised concerns that replacing teaching interactions with AI could devalue their degrees.

So is AI use in courses a good thing? And when might it become a problem?