Humanities in the Time of AI

by Laurent Dubreuil

Why AI offers a chance for the humanities to strengthen their relevance and significance

If humanistic research consists of the generation of consensus positions, simple expression, summarized texts, or passable translations, then we have arrived at the place where AI is able to accomplish these different missions to a convincing degree. However, Laurent Dubreuil argues, such tasks do not, in any way, constitute the humanities. On the contrary, he posits, a maximalist take on scholarship would not focus on generation but on creation, as a subject and as an object. Dubreuil seizes the opportunity of what AI reveals about the meaning of humanistic inquiry to offer a path for the renewal of the humanities on transhistorical, transcultural, and transdisciplinary grounds.

111 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 1, 2025

Reviews

[Andy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a rollercoaster, not in the sense of excitement but because some chapters were so loaded with peculiar word choices (beyond jargon imo) and some weren't. Really jarring and limited the efficacy of some chapters to me. But when he was writing like a human academic, the insights were very good. May re-read.

[Nicolai Zwick · Rating 3 out of 5]

difficult book.
the writing can be needlessly dense at times, especially seeing how at other times they can put their point so succinct and simply. the points they bring to the table range from “well no shit fucking duh” to genuinely thought provoking, particularly the introduction of the Phaedrus dialogue in relation to AI generative text and the chapters on translation, a plane they took a long time to land and pulled a few to many maneuvers but they did, ultimately, land.
they make points only a humanities nerd could make in ways only they could make them, I say both derogatorily and, more so, endearingly.

also I do not think this will reach an audience it should, which is the over 35-ers with no technical degree or real interest in how AI text generation actually works but just an interest in learning to use it. ai psychosis is something that scares the shit out of me for the older loved ones in our lives and the all the studies I’ve read around focus around things like history of schizophrenia, depression, drug use, etc. ; I believe the most common denominator among cases will be they just flat out don’t fucking get out how it works and that they are basically talking and forming relationships with their iPhone keyboard “next suggested word” function. anyway three stars baby three stars on this thing man three stars let’s go

[Archie Bee · Rating 2 out of 5]

leaning more 2.5 but bleh
1. interesting that he criticizes academic prose at certain points while his writing is the most formal, wordy, exhausting thing to read
2. he has a strange understanding of what digital humanities is that i don‘t really agree with
3. it‘s fun to speculate what to do humanities-wise with ai and talk about how it‘s expanding the humanities BUT when it‘s raising so many ethical concerns and causing real harm to people and the environment and society at large… i feel like we should skip the musings and partake in real, effective action to fix AI now

[Michael Leonard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A highly informative book about how AI is effecting the processes of the human activity and relays heavily on "punishment and reward theories" of logical mapping and conceptual thinking and AI analysis.

[Josh Heyes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jargon dense academicese but excellent central point - AI could meant a revitalising of the humanities. Emphasis on 'could'...