Abstract

This chapter explores professors' evolving role in the increasing commodification of higher education and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into academic environments. As universities adopt neoliberal policies and become more market-driven, professors are increasingly seen as service providers catering to student consumers rather than independent scholars and intellectual authorities. The rise of digital platforms, AI-driven learning tools, and open access to knowledge challenges the traditional gatekeeper role of professors, transforming how knowledge is created and disseminated. AI tools are often leveraged to optimize administrative processes and teaching outcomes. This chapter examines the implications of these changes for academic labor, intellectual autonomy, and the future of higher education, advocating for a reimagining of the professoriate as public intellectuals who can critically engage with AI and defend the university as a space for intellectual inquiry and the advancement of knowledge.