Abstract
This article examines the phenomenon of anthropomorphization of artificial intelligence (AI) as a key factor in the transformation of modern higher education. The author analyzes the psychological mechanisms of endowing AI agents with human qualities through the prism of the SEEK model. The paper presents the results of an empirical study conducted in February 2026 among teachers in Western Kazakhstan (n = 72), using the IDAQ scale and the author's questionnaire. A critically high level of anthropomorphization in the academic environment was revealed: up to 50% of respondents tend to attribute attributes of consciousness to AI, and 47.2% attribute emotional competence to it. The essence of the "enthusiast paradox" is revealed, whereby high engagement and trust in "animated" AI lead to the delegation of cognitive functions and the risk of academic decline among students. The necessity of shifting the role of the teacher from knowledge translator to "architect of meaning" and "ethical verifier" is substantiated. The study confirms that AI has ceased to be an external tool and has become an internal actor in educational relationships, necessitating the development of new ethical regulations in higher education.