When I first encountered ChatGPT, it was during my initial semester at VCU. I was over the moon after getting an A+ on my midterm essay and couldn’t wait to share the news with my friends back home. But then, one friend threw a curveball with a sarcastic, “Thanks ChatGPT.” At that moment, I didn’t even know what ChatGPT was, but I immediately jumped to defend my writing skills, insisting I didn’t need AI to ace my essay.
There’s a growing concern that generative AI is a threat to English majors and humanities departments. As an English student and editor, I’ve seen the worry among faculty and peers about what AI might mean for our field. Generative AI is often criticized for its ethical issues, environmental impact, and the potential to replace creative jobs. Yet, despite these concerns, I don’t see AI as the main problem at VCU.
The anxiety around AI in academia is really a symptom of larger systemic issues plaguing the American education system. Since the 2008 financial crisis, the value of a college degree, especially in the humanities, has been questioned. Universities, increasingly driven by numbers, focus on high grades over genuine learning, which encourages a culture of cheating and plagiarism. In this environment, tools like ChatGPT become tempting for students looking for an easy way out.
The devaluation of the humanities has led to a misunderstanding of their true purpose. Writing in college isn’t just about crafting grammatically perfect papers. It’s about exploring topics, forming arguments, and engaging in critical thinking—skills that AI can’t quite replicate. When students rely on AI for their assignments, they miss out on these learning opportunities.
As students, we need to rethink why we’re getting an education. Degrees are more than just credentials; they signify the skills and knowledge we gain. No matter your major, writing is an essential skill for communication and self-expression. Embracing the learning journey, including the “bad” writing moments, helps us grow.
To address the perceived threat of ChatGPT, we need to change how we view education and the humanities. By valuing the learning process over the final product, we can ensure that AI enhances rather than diminishes our academic experience.
