13/04/2026
I get turned on by original, well-studied, discerning thoughtfulness ... and as you can imagine, that is becoming severely scarce!
I get asked often what assistant I use, and I say 'none'. I used ChatGPT shortly for translation purposes, and I deleted the data since their deal with the Pentagon. I use few SM tools that have integrated AI, for my content, but not for doing the thinking or the research for me.
I have unsubscribed from teachers, even a few that hurt to do so, who are using AI in their writing and offerings - I can tell. I can also tell the AI-generated songs that Spotify has started to automatically add to my shuffles.
I find whatever is happening to humanity regarding the delegation of our ability to think and create to AI simply !
We are losing so much at the cost of efficiency and comfort. Including our humanness and future leadership!
..
Here are the final reflections from a history professor in the USA (article in the comments):
Students are afraid to fail, and AI presents itself as a savior. But what we learn from history is that progress requires . It requires reflection. Students are not just undermining their ability to learn, but to someday .
I asked my students to reflect, so I suppose I will end with my own reflection. I don’t use AI for anything in my academic or personal life. I value almost nothing more than my ability to think and to freely express myself. Even when I make , at least they are my mistakes.
We live in an era where personal expression is saturated by digital filters, is promoted through endless algorithms and academic freedom itself is under assault by the weakest minds among us. AI has only made this worse. It is a crisis.
I can offer no solutions other than to approach it and teach about it that way. I’m sure angry detractors will say that is antiquated, and maybe it is.
But I am a historian, so I will close on a historian’s note:
shows us that the right to literacy came at a heavy cost for many Americans, ranging from ostracism to death. Those in power recognized that oppression is best maintained by keeping the masses illiterate, and those oppressed recognized that literacy is liberation. To my students and to anyone who might listen, I say: Don’t surrender to AI your ability to read, write and think when others once risked their lives and died for the freedom to do so.
