Generative AI and the Humanities

Описание: This is the third seminar in a series titled "The Social Implications of Generative AI." It was presented in the Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology, Stellenbosch University, on 26 September 2024.

Ava: Generative AI in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Large language models (LLMs) constitute a new generation of natural language processors, which generate human-like text. The rise of publicly accessible LLMs (like ChatGPT) has produced much debate on how this will impact the varying domains of university life. In the humanities, particular attention has been focused on the implications for teaching, assessment, and pedagogical values. This presentation explores key themes that emerged in research based on interviews conducted in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Stellenbosch University.

Lennox: Integrating AI into Undergraduate Assessments Generative AI has compelled lecturers in higher education to confront the disruptive influence it poses to traditional assessment methods. Lecturers are, often reluctantly, coming to grips with the limitations of AI writing detection in preventing student ‘cheating’, and have no choice but to move beyond their reliance on essay-based assessments unaided by AI. The future academic success of students may depend on their ability to access, engage with, and utilize AI tools effectively. Delaying the implementation of equitable AI training strategies for both educators and students could exacerbate educational disparities. This presentation explores instances of instructional redesign aimed at fostering lasting metacognitive skills in undergraduate Sociology students through the integration of AI tools, rather than their avoidance.

Ava van Huyssteen is a master’s student in the Department of Sociology and Social
Anthropology at Stellenbosch University. Her current research explores generative AI in the humanities, based on interviews conducted in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

Lennox Olivier is a contract lecturer in Sociology and Social Anthropology at
Stellenbosch University. He serves as Advisor for Higher Education in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, where he focuses on blended learning and the integration of emerging learning technologies.