Research on the Boundaries of University Teachers’ Responsibilities and the Substitution Effect in the Context of Artificial Intelligence

Abstract

At present, artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are deeply integrated into all scenarios of teaching, research, and student development in higher education. Intelligent teaching systems, research data processing tools, and AI platforms for student management are gradually becoming important aids to educational activities. This transformation disrupts the traditional framework of university teachers’ responsibilities: fundamental tasks in knowledge transmission are diverted, repetitive work in research is replaced, and some managerial functions in student development are covered. Consequently, the boundaries of teachers’ responsibilities are increasingly blurred, and the substitution effect has led to role anxiety and confusion about professional positioning. Clarifying the specific impact of AI on teachers’ responsibilities, identifying the replaceable and irreplaceable domains, and exploring effective paths for fulfilling responsibilities are key to resolving teachers’ role-identity crisis, promoting the implementation of “human–AI collaborative” education models, and ensuring the high-quality digital development of higher education.