Remember when the teacher was absent and you got a free period? Well, it seems like that won’t be the case in the future. Let’s take a look at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). According to the reports from AFP, HKUST has recently begun testing with AI professors.

What does that mean? Well, students put on their virtual reality headsets and they are treated to a visual experience as they learn about game theory, taught by none other than Albert Einstein. Wow!

When many people fear AI replacing them in the workplace, the project lead for the HKUST AI programme, Professor Pan Hui, is optimistic. As per the report, he believes that this could help address the issue of teacher shortages. In his “Social Media for Creative” course he utilizes AI teachers to instruct a group of 30 postgraduate students. How does it work? Well, presentation slides are given as input, and then with some adjustments to the characters, gestures and their voice, you get the incredible output.

Well, lets hope for the best. Think about it, you are being taught by a famous scientist. And in future, when it is more successful, picture yourself learning the geography while travelling with Columbus or maybe witnessing battles between the mighty armies in the battlefield, participating in revolutions, understanding economics from famous economists, even receiving sports lessons from Messi or Ronaldo teaching you where exactly to aim…Oh I am overwhelmed just thinking about it.

But what about the downside? Are there any? What about teachers getting replaced? Hmm. You’d still need someone to tweak or fine-tune Einstein or Newton AIs. You wouldn’t want Einstein teaching the rules of football or even theory of relativity but just some bookish definition, right! That would be chaotic or boring. No! Even students would be absent then.

Though it will take some time, eventually AI could develop into something powerful enough to understand situations without any human intervention. What then? Well, that’s a bit scary. Isn’t it? Only time can tell.