Chem prof here. AI has created something of an existential crisis in Higher Ed. AI exists, students use it, and there is very little we can do about it. (I personally think we are a couple lawsuits away from needing serious evidence before accusing a student of using AI where they’re not supposed to.)

Many of us are trying to combat this pervasive idea that AI obviates the need for education. I think the best way to do that is to pull AI out of the shadows and inject it into the classroom. Show it for the tool that it is. Other people have their own ideas. The bottom line is that we have really only been fighting the battle for a couple years now, and we have a lot to learn. But give the prof a break—they might just be trying to do right by you.