Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education Physical Education: Pathways, Scenarios, and Limitations of Technology-Enabled Reform

In the context of “Healthy China 2030” and educational digitization, this paper examines the logical pathways, typical scenarios, and limitations of artificial intelligence (AI) empowering university physical education. The study reveals that AI facilitates a shift from experience-driven to evidence-based teaching by reconstructing the “objective-content-evaluation” chain. Through technologies such as smart wearables, VR, and AR, it enables personalized training and real-time feedback. Meanwhile, challenges including technology dependency, resource inequality, and ethical risks are identified. The paper proposes a layered implementation strategy that emphasizes the essence of education, aiming to promote the systemic reform of physical education and the holistic development of individuals.