“The path of least resistance,” opined Henry David Thoreau, “leads to crooked rivers and crooked men.” As our nation takes a cold, hard look at our failing public education system, can we honestly say that we have heeded Thoreau’s warning?

If the widespread acceptance of artificial intelligence in the classroom is any indication, the answer is a resounding "No."

“Our North Star is to create educational experiences that excite and empower learners everywhere with AI literacy,” Charlotte Dungan, COO of the AI Education Project, told Harvard’s ED Magazine. “I think the possibilities for ChatGPT to remove rote work from the classroom and empower deep learning experiences are exciting.”

But what is the “rote work” of which Dungan speaks? Researching a topic by seeking out multiple (human) viewpoints. Strengthening literacy skills by scouring resources for new information. Formulating conclusions by using logic to decipher the resources. Using rhetoric to create persuasive arguments to advance said conclusion.

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