Chinese universities are grappling with the growing impact of generative AI on classroom teaching, as educators report declining student engagement and the erosion of the traditional teacher-centered model. A recent Wenhui Daily article highlighted an online post by a university instructor declaring that “the classroom is dead,” arguing that conventional lectures have become increasingly ineffective as students turn to AI tools instead of classroom instruction.
At the 2026 Sohu Technology Forum, Peking University professor emeritus Qiao Xiaochun said AI has fundamentally altered the teaching environment. He argued that students can instantly verify or challenge instructors’ lectures using AI, while many believe classroom content is already available through AI tools, reducing their motivation to attend class or participate actively. Qiao also described an “AI arms race” in coursework, with students using AI to generate assignments, universities deploying AI to detect AI-generated content, and students then using AI to remove signs of AI assistance.
According to a 2026 MyCOS survey, 77 percent of Chinese university students reported using generative AI frequently, up from 64 percent in 2024. At the same forum, Tianjin University Vice President Li Bin said higher education is evolving from a traditional teacher-student model to a “teacher-student-AI” model.
Source: Sohu, May 27, 2026
https://m.sohu.com/a/1028433695_121294?scm=thor.488_14-200000.0.0-0-0-0-0