As new digital technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), reshape education, the interpersonal dimensions of learning, how students communicate, collaborate, empathize, and reason ethically, remain central to meaningful human interaction in the classroom. We examine how physiology educators can respond to a shifting landscape shaped by the emergence of generative AI and the disruptions of the pandemic. Drawing on current research, institutional responses, and practical classroom strategies, we highlight how human-centred pedagogy is being reimagined to foster interpersonal growth. From peer-led case studies and flipped labs to escape rooms and structured reflections, we showcase how educators are creating space for empathy, decision-making, and teamwork. Rather than sidestepping AI, we explore how it can be leveraged to enhance these interpersonal skills. The result is a practical framework for designing learning environments that prepare our graduates for an AI-shaped future while deepening their human connections.
Vaswani et al. (2026) studied this question.