Duke Professors Embrace AI to Transform Teaching & Learning

Key Points

• Duke University is leading the charge in integrating AI into classroom teaching, with professors across disciplines finding innovative ways to enhance student learning
• At Duke’s Fuqua School of Business, new AI systems track classroom participation with over 90% accuracy, providing fair and detailed feedback to both students and professors
• Professors are taking varied approaches—some fully embracing AI as a learning tool, while others implement restrictions to preserve critical thinking skills
• Duke launched a university-wide Provost’s Initiative on AI and provides free access to ChatGPT-4o for all undergraduates
• The Duke Faculty Academy brings together eight professors from different disciplines to explore AI’s impact on education and develop best practices

Background

Artificial intelligence has rapidly become one of the most significant challenges facing higher education today. As AI tools like ChatGPT become more accessible, universities worldwide are wrestling with how to incorporate these technologies while maintaining academic integrity and fostering genuine learning.

Duke University has chosen to confront this challenge head-on rather than resist it. In 2025, Duke launched its Provost’s Initiative to examine both the opportunities and challenges AI brings to student life (ℹ️ The Duke Chronicle). The university also began providing free, unlimited access to ChatGPT-4o to all undergraduates and launched its platform, DukeGPT.

What Happened

Duke professors are now actively experimenting with AI integration across their courses, and the results are fascinating. At the Fuqua School of Business, Professor Scott Dyreng announced in January 2026 a groundbreaking AI classroom system that tracks student participation in real-time (ℹ️ Poets&Quants).

The system uses an expanded network of microphones and cameras combined with custom software to create time-stamped transcripts showing exactly who spoke and what they said. Students check into their seats using an app, and the AI matches each comment to the speaker with over 90% accuracy. The tool can even identify whether comments were relevant, showed genuine understanding, or encouraged others to participate.

Meanwhile, across campus, professors are taking varied approaches to AI. David Carlson, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, takes a lenient approach in his machine learning course, allowing students to use AI tools as long as they’re transparent about it. Matthew Engelhard, assistant professor of biostatistics and bioinformatics, encourages interactive AI use while ensuring students still learn fundamental principles.

However, not all professors are embracing AI equally. Thomas Pfau, professor of English, believes AI has no place in the humanities, where interpretation and personal voice are paramount. He worries that students risk “losing their voice” when they delegate writing to AI.

To address these diverse perspectives, Duke created the Duke Faculty Academy—bringing together eight professors from different disciplines to explore AI’s impact on teaching (ℹ️ The Duke Chronicle).

Why It Matters

Duke’s approach to AI in education represents a significant shift in how universities can respond to technological disruption. Instead of banning AI or ignoring it, Duke is actively studying how it can enhance—not replace—human teaching and learning.

For students, the initiative means preparing for a world where AI literacy will be essential. Nearly 70% of Duke students already use AI to explain complex topics at least once a week, according to a 2025 study.

The Fuqua AI system, in particular, addresses longstanding challenges in participation grading. It eliminates bias based on appearance or accent, never gets tired or distracted, and can spot patterns human observers miss—like professors unconsciously calling on one side of the room more than the other.

For the broader higher education landscape, Duke’s experiments could provide valuable data on what works and what doesn’t when integrating AI into teaching. Provost Alec Gallimore emphasized that AI is a permanent presence. It is going to be as disruptive as the internet was.” (ℹ️ The Duke Chronicle)

What’s Next

The Duke Faculty Academy will present their findings and recommendations at a capstone event in April 2026. Meanwhile, the Fuqua AI classroom system is still in beta testing, with full deployment expected in the coming months.

Duke’s Center for Teaching and Learning continues to provide workshops and resources for faculty exploring AI integration. The university is also monitoring student outcomes to ensure AI tools enhance rather than undermine learning.

As one professor put it, “Everyone needs to embrace it”—not because AI is perfect, but because students entering an AI-powered world must consider it.

Source: The Duke Chronicle, Poets&Quants
Published: January 27, 2026
Original articles:

• Poets&Quants—How Duke’s Fuqua Is Using AI To Transform The Business Classroom
• The Duke Chronicle—As ChatGPT enters the classroom
• The Duke Chronicle—Inaugural Duke Faculty Academy