Artificial intelligence (AI) is opening new doors in higher education, and UNLV faculty are leading the way in finding creative ways to bring it into the classroom. On The Real BS About AI podcast with hosts Bob Soulliere and Alethea Inns, psychology professor Brian Uldall, Ph. D., shares how he uses AI to spark student engagement and prepare for a future of personalized teaching.

In this episode, Uldall recalls an “aha moment” in class when he showed students a chatbot’s answer to a psychology question about Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. The demo sparked a discussion about how AI could transform learning and challenges around academic honesty.

“They immediately see the potential for problems with regard to academic honesty,” Uldall said. “They also clearly see the potential for helping them discover new ways of thinking about psychology, and I think that's that part is great.”

He believes higher education must adapt to a world where students already have powerful tools at their fingertips. Uldall envisions AI as a catalyst for personalized education, where assignments and feedback are tailored to each student’s unique path, and sees an opportunity for universities to offer experiences and value that free online tools can’t match.

For faculty, this means experimenting, noticing what works, and talking openly with students about AI. UNLV’s new faculty training series supports this effort by giving instructors practical ways to bring AI into their teaching. Uldall is already leading the way by weaving AI into his curriculum.

“It can be exciting to step into new territory, and pioneers like Brian show us what’s possible,” Soulliere said.

The Real BS About AI publishes new episodes every two weeks, blending humor, accessibility, and practical advice to make artificial intelligence approachable for the UNLV community. View the AI Technology webpage for past podcast episodes or more information about AI at UNLV.

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Content for this story was drawn directly from the podcast and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our communications team verifies all content for accuracy.