In a recent article for University Affairs, Timothy Pettipiece (Carleton University) underscores the importance of keeping the “human” in the humanities as higher ed navigates a “technological inflection point” with AI. Pettipiece argues that the humanities are essential because they help maintain our sense of what it means to be human and protect our capacity for critical thought, self-reflection, and free expression. While there may be room in our classrooms for other types of “intelligence,” he asserts that the academy must have some “machine-free learning spaces” to maintain academic freedom, pedagogical integrity, and the relational nature of education. “Such an intentional stance helps facilitate the relational nature of education, while reinforcing the communal and civic mission of the university,” concludes Pettipiece.
