Artificial Intelligence (AI) integration within Indian higher education presents an opportunity to enhance teacher effectiveness and professional development in higher education institutions (HEIs). This research investigates the potential of AI-powered tools to empower teachers by providing personalized learning pathways, automating administrative tasks, fostering collaborative learning environments, and facilitating professional development experiences. This study draws on in-depth interviews with selected teachers from various domains in India to analyze their perspectives on how AI tools enhance teaching efficiency. Purposive sampling techniques are used to analyse the data. The findings suggest that AI integration has huge potential to enhance teachers’ efficiency and learners’ outcomes. The findings aim to provide valuable insights and recommendations for policymakers, educational institutions, and teachers to leverage AI effectively for transformative teacher development and improved student learning outcomes.