The California bill AB 2370 mandates that community college courses must be taught by human instructors, but it allows for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in course development and grading. Assemblywoman Sabrina Cervantes, the bill’s author, emphasized the importance of human faculty in teaching students despite the potential benefits of AI in the classroom.
The Faculty Association of California Community Colleges, representing over 9,000 faculty members statewide, supported the bill as it provides guardrails for the integration of AI while ensuring that students receive instruction from human instructors.
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of virtual learning, leading to an increase in the use of AI to assist students. Despite the potential of AI in enhancing personalized instruction and tutoring, many faculty members expressed concerns about the technology’s implications for their instructional roles.
The bill, which passed both the Assembly and Senate without opposition, is awaiting Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature. If signed into law by the end of September, it will take effect on Jan 1, 2025.
