Teaching in Higher Ed The AI Con
19 snips
Jun 26, 2025 
Emily M. Bender, a linguistics professor and influential figure in AI, teams up with Alex Hanna, director of research at DAIR, to dissect the misconceptions surrounding artificial intelligence. They discuss the urgent need for clarity in AI terminology and the societal impact of technology hype. The duo challenges the dichotomy between optimistic and pessimistic views on AI and highlights how educators must navigate its impact on teaching and student engagement. Their insights encourage a community-focused approach to understanding and regulating AI developments.
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AI Is a Misleading Umbrella Term
- The term AI lacks a clear referent and is used as an umbrella for very different technologies.
- These range from simple spreadsheets to complex synthetic text generators, making the label confusing.
Language Models Mimic Form, Not Meaning
- Large language models only capture the form of language, not meaning or intent.
- We interpret their outputs by imagining a mind behind the text, but the mind is actually on our side, not in the machine.
Use AI Understanding in Teaching
- Faculty should work with students to understand how AI technology works rather than only policing usage.
- Use your disciplinary expertise to explain why relying on synthetic text undermines learning and feedback.
