Across many industries, artificial intelligence (AI) is changing how we work, learn, and connect, and psychology is no exception. For students considering a career in this dynamic field, it’s raising some big questions: what skills will matter most in an AI-driven world, and will AI replace human psychologists?
In this blog, ACAP’s Professor of Psychological Science Mike Innes and Associate Professor Fiona Ann Papps share their perspectives on how AI is reshaping psychology education.
From faster course development to the growing challenge of assessment, structured training to the importance of empathy, they unpack what these changes mean for students preparing for a future in psychology.
ACAP Psychology Professor Mike Innes
How AI impacts teaching and learning
According to ACAP Professor Mike Innes, AI is changing psychology education in two distinct ways: improving how courses are developed and delivered, while also creating new challenges in how student learning is assessed.
“With AI, it’s possible to develop courses more quickly, to keep up to date with the information and the knowledge that psychologists are generating,” Mike explains.
And in a field like psychology, where new research is constantly emerging, this is crucial; it means teaching can evolve alongside the discipline, rather than lagging behind it, and students benefit from course content that reflects current thinking, real-world challenges, and contemporary practice.
“AI can be incorporated into teaching materials more effectively and helps to make things more efficient all around.”
This kind of responsiveness helps ensure graduates are well-equipped for the professional environments they’ll enter after graduation.
At the same time, AI is changing how students engage with their studies, which raises new questions around assessment.
“It enables students to access information and get answers to exam questions and essay questions in a very fast, effective manner.”
While this can support learning when used ethically, it also creates uncertainty around how student capability is measured.
“There’s somewhat of a crisis within the assessment of courses,” Mike says, pointing to the growing difficulty of ensuring that submitted work reflects a student’s own understanding.
“The challenge is: how do we assess the knowledge and skill base of the students, ensuring that they are the authors of their assessments, and not artificial intelligence?”
For students, this points to a shift in how learning is evaluated, with more focus on applied knowledge, critical thinking, and real-world capability – key skills we teach here at ACAP.
ACAP Psychology ASSOCIATE Professor FIONA ANN PAPPS
AI vs uniquely human skills
Alongside these structural changes, the prevalence of AI is also prompting educators to reassess what psychology students are being taught to do.
“Psychology education has become more structured and formula-driven, meaning that AI can more easily replicate what students are being trained to do,” says Associate Professor Fiona Ann Papps.
While this structure plays an important role in building foundational knowledge, when learning relies too heavily on checklists and fixed processes, it can limit deeper thinking.
“If we focus too heavily on checklists in our training, we encourage students to become replaceable by AI.”
This is where many of the current concerns about AI come from, not just around the technology itself, but how closely some human efforts mirror tasks that can be automated. In response, there’s a growing focus on capabilities that go beyond process and procedure.
“Students need to be trained to exercise professional judgment, not simply to follow steps,” Fiona explains.
This professional judgement allows psychologists to interpret nuance, weigh context, and make decisions that are not always straightforward. It supports the ability to respond to individuals, rather than applying the same approach every time – something that AI struggles to do.
For students, this means building confidence in critical thinking, questioning assumptions, and applying knowledge in flexible ways.
Why empathy still matters
At the heart of psychology is something AI cannot replicate: genuine human connection.
Empathy is central to effective psychological practice. It helps practitioners build trust, understand lived experience, and respond with care and sensitivity. While AI can generate responses or simulate interaction, it cannot truly understand what it means to be human.
“At ACAP, we encourage the training of students in the development of professional skills and in the development of empathy, so that replacement by AI is far less likely,” Fiona says.
So, what does this mean for your future as a psychology practitioner? AI presents both opportunities and challenges for psychology education. Or, as Mike puts it, “It’s a dual sword: a benefit and a threat.”
While AI allows us to learn faster and stay up to date with industry developments more easily, the future of psychology practice continues to rely on uniquely human skills that are hardest to automate. By developing professional judgement, critical thinking, and empathy, ACAP graduates are building capabilities that remain essential in a changing world.
AI AND THE FUTURE OF PSYCHOLOGY EDUCATION: OUR FINAL THOUGHTS
As AI continues to shape the future of work, choosing the right psychology course matters more than ever. At ACAP, students are supported to develop the skills needed to succeed in a rapidly evolving field. Explore our psychology courses and discover how you can build a future-focused career grounded in human connection.
Have questions about psychology? Our Course Advisors can help you clarify your career options and study pathways. Book a call to discuss your goals, explore our psychology courses and map your path into the profession.