Macquarie University replaces face-to-face psychology lectures with AI chatbot for two courses
Macquarie University has eliminated classroom sessions for two required psychology units, swapping them for an AI chatbot, online quizzes and optional Zoom tutorials. The university says the digital activities supplement but do not replace core learning, and assessments remain unchanged.
Macquarie University has swapped traditional classroom time for an AI chatbot named Virtual Peer in two compulsory psychology units, pairing it with online quizzes and optional weekly Zoom tutorials. The university describes the AI activities as supplemental to core online readings, quizzes and videos, while assessment continues to rely on research tasks and examinations. Professors upload and verify the content used by the chatbot, which the university claims reduces the risk of hallucinated answers and allows monitoring of student interactions.
Optional paid tutors run multiple Zoom sessions each week, averaging roughly one class per 70 students across the two subjects. The institution plans to re-introduce face-to-face teaching in 2027 on alternating semesters, offering students a format choice. The move has drawn criticism from a student who feels the approach replaces human instruction and from academics, including NTEU leaders Peter Chen and Alison Barnes, who warn of job insecurity and are preparing a strike demanding AI safeguards.
Why it matters
The story highlights the growing role of AI in university teaching and the resulting concerns over quality, employment and student choice.
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