The Importance of Humanities in the AI Era

Simon J. Rabinovitch is a history professor and codirector of the Humanities Center at Northeastern University.

In a TED Talk, Sal Khan discusses how AI could revolutionize education by providing personal tutors and assistants through Khan Academy's chatbot, Khanmigo. However, this approach may hinder students' ability to think and interpret independently.

Universities are eager to integrate AI tools into education, which risks undermining students' ability to think for themselves. The humanities can offer a human-centered refuge in an AI-saturated educational environment.

While AI can aid in humanities research, such as decoding ancient languages, indiscriminate adoption in teaching and learning poses dangers. Universities are drafting guidelines for responsible AI use, but the positive impact of AI on education remains uncertain.

AI cannot replace the humanities, and it is crucial to emphasize human creativity and interpretative skills. Educators must create environments where students can achieve deep understanding without AI.