Imagine paying thousands of dollars for a university degree, only to find your weekly classroom discussions replaced by an artificial intelligence chatbot. That is the reality for psychology students at Macquarie University in Australia, where traditional in-person tutorials have been swapped for an online AI tool, online quizzes, and optional video feedback sessions.
The university’s AI assistant, named "Virtual Peer," was introduced into two mandatory undergraduate psychology subjects to guide students through scenario-based exercises and weekly questions. Macquarie University emphasized that the AI activities are intended to supplement online materials rather than replace human teaching entirely. However, because both the online reading modules and AI exercises are optional—with students assessed primarily through research papers and exams—the change has eliminated mandatory face-to-face classroom teaching for the semester.
The shift has drawn sharp criticism from enrolled students. With individual subjects costing over $2,000 each and a standard three-year degree topping $50,000, many feel they are receiving far less value for their money. One student expressed frustration at completing class exercises with a robot instead of participating in dynamic group discussions, adding that it felt like training the software to eventually eliminate human teaching jobs.
While Macquarie stated that "Virtual Peer" was created alongside educators using verified course materials to ensure accuracy, the move reflects a broader trend across Australian higher education. Several universities are testing custom AI avatars and automated teaching platforms to handle student inquiries and personalized learning tasks.
This rapid expansion has fueled growing concern among academic staff. The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) warned that integrating AI without strict boundaries threatens job security, increases staff workloads, and reduces essential human contact for students. As tension mounts across the university sector, academic staff at some institutions have planned strikes to demand workplace protections against automated teaching tools.