{
  "id": 4880884,
  "title": "Macquarie University swaps in-person psychology classes with AI chatbot for two subjects",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/macquarie-university-swaps-in-person-psychology-classes-with-ai-4880884",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-09-01T15:00:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Guardian Technology",
    "slug": "guardian-technology",
    "url": "https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/sep/02/macquarie-university-using-ai-chatbot-tutorials"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Macquarie University is replacing in-person psychology classes with an AI chatbot, online quizzes, and optional online tutorials for two mandatory subjects. The university's \"Virtual Peer\" AI guides students through scenario-based exercises and answers questions, supplementing core learning materials like online readings and videos. Neither the core nor AI activities are mandatory, and students are only assessed on separate research tasks and exams. The decision to incorporate AI into teaching comes as institutions increasingly give technology more responsibilities, leading critics to warn of potential staff cuts and loss of what makes teaching rewarding. One anonymous student expressed dissatisfaction with the robot replacing human interaction, stating it felt \"short-changed.\" Despite concerns, a recent survey showed that most staff and students found the tool valuable or recommended its use. The university partnered with educators to design Virtual Peer, ensuring it supports rather than replaces human teachers. Professors upload information used by the AI and review its responses, making it more tailored than general-purpose AI tools. Macquarie also monitors student conversations on the service, potentially reducing the risk of AI \"hallucination.\" The university plans to return to alternating in-person classes in 2027, allowing students to choose their preferred format.",
  "summary": "University’s move is part of trend that critics within academia say will lead to further staff cuts and the loss of ‘everything that makes the job worth doing’ An Australian university has swapped in-person classes with an AI chatbot, online quizzes and optional online tutorials in two subjects as institutions give the technology more teaching responsibilities. Macquarie University’s “Virtual…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Guardian Australia",
        "title": "Macquarie University swaps in-person psychology classes with AI chatbot for two subjects",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/macquarie-university-swaps-in-person-psychology-classes-with-ai",
        "published": "2026-09-01T15:00:02.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}