Teaching in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Prudence, Imagination, and Commitment

Abstract

On Teacher’s Day, the National Autonomous University of Mexico (unam) reflects on the impact of generative artificial intelligence (gai) on higher education. The data are compelling: more than 80% of faculty members and 90% of students already use these tools. Far from representing a threat, ai invites us to rethink how teaching, assessment, and learning itself are understood. Faculty resistance does not depend on age, but on institutional conditions such as training, access, and clear guidance. The real challenge lies in integrating technology through sound pedagogical judgment —transforming quick answers into reflective thinking— without losing the irreplaceable core of teaching: educating people, not merely informing them. The text advocates for a cautious optimism and for a university that uses artificial intelligence with greater human intelligence.