A.I. Is Shedding Enlightenment Values (AI column)

Interesting. article David A. Bell, professor of history at Princeton University and an expert on the Enlightenment. In this article, David critically analyzes the claims of techno-optimists that the current development of AI is similar to the Enlightenment of the eighteenth century. According to him, AI not only does not bring educational values, but actually undermines their foundations. But first we need to start with the similarities between these eras. Both are characterized by revolutionary optimism and a belief in transforming the future of humanity. Just as the eighteenth-century philosopher Jean Léron d’Alembert spoke of a “tipping point in the history of human thought,” modern AI leaders such as Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleiman call it “the greatest redistribution of power in history.” Another important parallel is the dissemination of knowledge - the encyclopedia of Diderot and d'Alembert of the XVIII century, which contained 74 000 articles 28 She sought to systematize all human knowledge and make it available to the public. Modern AI enthusiasts claim that ChatGPT with the right queries can teach anything from foreign languages to auto mechanics.

The critical distinctions, where eighteenth-century educators deliberately created texts that challenged readers, forcing them to wrestle with complex concepts, ponder contradictions, and form their own judgments, are worth discussing. But the interaction with AI is now radically different – users manage the dialogue, ask questions and form conversations according to their preferences. In fact, ChatGPT doesn’t give pushbacks to users, challenge users’ beliefs or moral principles – often it just looks like a sycophant and a licker. The reason for this is the commercial nature of AI – the success of such applications is to provide users with more than they already want. This business model fundamentally contradicts the educational goals of intellectual development and critical thinking of people.

In the end, this may lead to the following 1. Threat to critical thinking The author of the article predicts the degradation of the ability to critical analysis. AI provides information in an “intellectually pre-digested” form, which deprives users of the opportunity to develop their own judgment through the fight against contradictions and complexities. That's confirmed. research Microsoft Research, where the survey 319 Knowledge workers have shown that increased confidence in generative AI is associated with decreased critical thinking. Study participants reported reduced cognitive effort when using AI tools. 2. Intellectual passivity Unlike enlightenment texts that actively engage readers through riddles, paradoxes, and dialogues with opposing viewpoints, AI creates an environment of intellectual passivity. Users get ready-made answers instead of developing self-analysis skills. 3. Undermining educational values Instead of developing the skeptical thinking, independent judgment, and intellectual courage that were the foundation of the Enlightenment, AI fosters a consumerist attitude toward knowledge. 4. Loss of human understanding Research shows that AI contributes to the accumulation of knowledge, but not to human understanding. Unlike the science of the Enlightenment, which made mysteries explainable and expanded the boundaries of human understanding in parallel with knowledge, modern AI solves problems in processes that remain incomprehensible to humans. 5. A new form of consciousness without philosophical guidance The author predicts the emergence of a new form of human consciousness, but notes the lack of political or philosophical leadership to explain and direct this new relationship between man and machine.

For the sake of interest, compare this article with prediction Soft Singularity by Sam Altman.

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