The Opinions A.I. Is Fueling a ‘Poverty of Imagination.’ Here’s How We Can Fix It.
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Aug 12, 2025 
Tressie McMillan Cottom, a sociology professor at UNC-Chapel Hill focusing on race, gender, and education, joins Jessica Grose, a writer and educator advocate. They dive into how AI is reshaping higher education, emphasizing the need for critical thinking amid rising student anxieties. The duo discusses the contrast between AI and traditional methods and how humanities can lead students to engage thoughtfully with technology. They also explore generational differences in AI perceptions, underscoring the need for accountability and community trust.
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AI As A 'Mid-Tech' In Education
- Tressie McMillan Cottom calls generative AI 'mid-tech' and situates it in a long line of ed-tech hype.
- She argues AI averages mid-level responses and lacks tied learning outcomes.
Community-Driven Classroom Experiment
- Jessica Grose describes a Beloit professor who had students run discussions at libraries and senior centers.
- The class built role-play practice and a student-created code of conduct rather than banning AI outright.
Semester-Long Data Rights Assignment
- Tressie McMillan Cottom assigns students to map their data rights and tech expectations across the semester.
- Students analyze privacy trade-offs and learn how AI could consume their academic work.
