The AI Impact Timeline: What to Expect
AI is set to impact postsecondary education teachers significantly. By 2028, an estimated 40% of current tasks will be automated. This transformation is not uniform; junior lecturers and adjunct instructors lacking research credentials or specialized expertise are at risk as early as 2026.
The early wave of AI automation will target routine tasks like lecture delivery, assignment grading, and basic student advising. These functions will increasingly be managed by AI-powered platforms, freeing up educators for more nuanced roles.
Mid-wave transformation will see AI further integrate into the educational ecosystem. While tenured professors with strong research and practitioner networks may extend their careers to 2030 and beyond, the overall demand for traditional teaching roles will evolve.