AI can do what? The implications of autonomous AI in teaching and learning (a demonstration and discussion)

Artificial intelligence is rapidly evolving beyond tools that answer questions or generate essays. With the rise of autonomous AI (also known as agentic AI), students now have access to systems that can act on their behalf, including navigating online platforms (such as CourseLink), completing learning and assessment tasks, and making decisions. This session will showcase the capabilities of these tools in teaching and learning contexts, highlighting both their potential impact on student learning and the challenges they present for teaching and assessment. Through live demonstrations, discussion, and Q&A, participants will explore the implications of autonomous AI for course design, assessment, and the student learning experience.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Describe the new capabilities of autonomous AI tools and how they differ from previous generations of generative AI.
• Recognize potential impacts of autonomous AI on teaching, assessment, and student learning in higher education.
• Discuss strategies for responding to these tools in their own contexts, including considerations for assessment, learning outcomes, and student engagement.