AI Poised to Revolutionize University Teaching, Replacing Lecturers

Artificial intelligence is set to fundamentally transform higher education, with AI tools increasingly capable of handling core teaching tasks, according to Professor Mark Shhtein, former Rector of Tel Aviv University. Shhtein, who served as rector from 2020 to 2025, observed that while initial discussions focused on preventing AI misuse, the real impact lies in AI's potential to enhance and even replace traditional instruction.

He noted that universities have struggled to keep pace with AI's rapid development, often developing systems that quickly become outdated or are limited by safety constraints. Shhtein predicts that most AI applications in academia will come from off-the-shelf products like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, used directly by students and faculty. The primary challenge for universities will be adapting policies and infrastructure to this new reality, rather than developing their own AI solutions.

Shhtein shared a personal experiment where he used ChatGPT to create a virtual tutor based on his lecture notes, which he found to be highly effective in personalized instruction. He plans to use this AI tutor alongside his traditional teaching this academic year to observe student engagement. He believes AI will take over a growing portion of teaching duties, potentially making frontal lectures obsolete, as AI can cater to individual learning paces and styles.

The role of university faculty will shift from direct instruction to curriculum design, guidance, and oversight. Universities will need to focus on what to teach, develop syllabi, set requirements, and monitor learning quality. While AI can assist in creating and grading exams, in-person, supervised exams are likely to remain the most reliable assessment method in the near future.

Beyond knowledge transfer, Shhtein highlighted the potential loss of crucial social aspects of university education, such as peer interaction and community building, if learning becomes solely AI-driven. He stressed the need for universities to intentionally foster these interpersonal elements through activities like labs and discussion groups. Ultimately, universities must adapt to the evolving landscape, embracing AI's capabilities to remain relevant, or risk being bypassed by students seeking more efficient learning methods.