I am having a hard time thinking of a point in history where academia experienced a revolutionary change as profound as AI will have in the next few years. Besides the printing press, it is hard to tell.
Academia is about to experience a profound change not seen since Plato founded the Academy. The role of the professor will be less about transmitting bodies of knowledge and more about igniting the curiosity and drive in their students; less about testing mastery of knowledge and more about teaching how to focus your attention. In the era of information, the ability to learn new skills, to focus attention, to cultivate inner-motivation, and to nourish enthusiasm will become ever more valuable.
I wonder what Plato would have done.