Professors in Phased Retirement Are to Participate in AI Pilot Program

Amherst College is launching an AI pilot program called "Virtual Faculty Engine," which will utilize AI avatars of professors in phased retirement, allowing students to interact with their educational experiences online for generations. Supreme Leader of Student Relations Madeline Gold '28 introduced the program to the Association of Amherst Students (AAS), detailing that retiring professors can upload face scans and record three hours of audio per week to create life-like avatars. These avatars will be powered by a small data center that the college plans to build near Book & Plow Farm, aiming for completion by 2032. In the interim, Frost Library's computing operations will handle the AI processes. The plan received official approval following a 35-20 faculty vote last Thursday. Johnson A. Chapel Professor of Geology LeBrun Jane expressed strong enthusiasm, stating that the project positions Amherst College as a pioneer in liberal arts education. However, the proposal was met with mixed reactions among senators; while some appreciated the constant access to professors, senator John Doe '27 criticized the program as a "blow to the Amherst legacy," and senator Jane Smith '28 acknowledged "environmental concerns" despite her enthusiasm for AI. Further details are expected to be shared in a school-wide email.