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The Impact of AI on the Humanities

Artificial Intelligence has impacted almost every aspect of our society, including the collection of academic disciplines categorized as the humanities. This project surveys and explores how AI is challenging and transforming core humanistic disciplines such as literature, history, religious studies, philosophy, and the arts. Conversely, the project also examines and chronicles how these humanistic disciplines have imagined and criticized artificial intelligence both presently and historically. This project aims to enable a greater understanding and appreciation of the nature, power, and limitations of both AI and the humanities via this investigation of the bidirectional influence they have on one another. While most of the research will draw on scholarly sources, the team is also expected to conduct professional interviews with relevant academics and professionals. Research outputs include (but are not limited to) research  papers, short articles, opinion pieces, creative work, and interviews. All outputs will be published and compiled on a multimedia website. The team will also plan at least four major events (two per semester) to highlight their research.

The current roadmap plans for two lines of inquiries:

The first focuses on addressing 5 Big Topics about AI and the Humanities. These include: 

  1. Originality (Can AI produce original work?)

  2. Beauty (Is what AI creates beautiful?)

  3. Meaning (Does AI understand the meaning of what it says?)

  4. Deception (How does AI deceive?)

  5. Relationship (What is our relationship with AI?)

The second focuses on exploring and detailing the relationship that various humanistic disciplines have with AI. The disciplines on which we expect to focus include History, Literature, Media Studies, Performance Art, Philosophy, Religious Studies, and Visual Art. 

This roadmap is subject to change given the composition and strength of the team.