With the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, the ecological environment of vocational education has undergone significant changes. As important subjects of education, teachers in higher vocational colleges are facing pressure to restructure their traditional roles. Based on this, higher vocational colleges need to leverage AI technology to promote the transformation of teachers’ roles, help them adapt to the new educational environment, and thereby enhance the effectiveness of talent cultivation. From the perspective of teachers in higher vocational colleges, this study analyzes the problems faced in their role transformation and proposes specific adaptation strategies. It aims to promote the development of teachers in higher vocational colleges, accelerate the pace of their role transformation, and further contribute to the high-quality development of higher vocational education.