Meeting Street cover image

Meeting Street

AI and the Humanities

Dec 6, 2023
Hollis Robbins, a scholar of African American literature and Dean of Humanities at the University of Utah, dives into the intersection of artificial intelligence and the humanities. They discuss the ethical challenges of AI tools like ChatGPT and the necessity of human judgment in scholarly practice. Robbins shares her transition from politics to academia sparked by a manuscript discovery. Additionally, they explore how AI impacts cultural narratives, emphasizing the richness of human identity and the importance of understanding historical contexts in literature.
30:08

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The podcast emphasizes the necessity for humanities scholars to critically engage with AI to address its cultural limitations and biases.
  • It highlights the importance of historical context in literary studies, advocating for a deeper understanding of how past influences shape contemporary interpretations.

Deep dives

The Intersection of AI and Humanities

The discussion highlights the growing concern regarding the impacts of artificial intelligence on academic practices in the humanities. It argues that while AI technology, such as chat GPT, can produce technically proficient writing, it often lacks cultural nuance and representation. This absence is critical in fields where the subtleties of language, culture, and identity play a significant role in understanding human experience. By emphasizing the need for humanities scholars to engage with and critique AI, the conversation suggests that the field must adapt its teaching and research methods to address these technological advancements effectively.

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