Macquarie University swaps in-person psychology classes with AI chatbot for two subjects

What happened

According to The Guardian’s source item, Macquarie University swaps in-person psychology classes with AI chatbot for two subjects, 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’ Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast 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 Peer” is part of each week’s learning in two mandatory psychology units, programmed to ask students questions and guide them through scenario-based exercises. Continue reading…

Context

The development sits in VINI’s Technology file for readers following technology, science, product policy, markets, infrastructure, and the public consequences of innovation. The original report is linked so readers can check the source account, follow later updates, and compare new coverage against the first published record. The source item is dated 2026-09-01T15:00:02+00:00.

What to watch

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Source

Primary source: Macquarie University swaps in-person psychology classes with AI chatbot for two subjects via The Guardian. VINI cites and links the source; it does not reproduce the publisher’s full article text without rights clearance.