The humanities in the age of AI: renaissance rather than twilight?

The rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI) increases the relevance of the humanities and those that realize this will get ahead.

For years, critics have lamented the decline of the humanities, particularly within the framework of the corporate university. The argument is well-rehearsed: as institutions prioritize STEM disciplines and vocational training, fields like philosophy, literature, history and creative writing appear increasingly irrelevant. In this narrative, the humanities are the casualty of economic pragmatism.

In particular, here in South Korea, as Gen-Z finds it harder and harder to secure employment, the response is to follow what went before - thin out the humanities and reinforce STEM and vocational courses. Increase class sizes and get them all prepping like to fit into the workforce.

What if this approach is fundamentally flawed? What if, instead of being on the verge of extinction, the humanities are about to experience a resurgence?

The rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI) has brought this question into sharp focus. AI can generate text, synthesize information, and mimic human expr…