American historian Timothy Snyder has called on universities to rethink their approaches to education in light of the rapid development of artificial intelligence. In a video message recorded in Kharkiv, he emphasized the need to bring written assignments back into the classroom and to introduce shared reading as the foundation of the educational process.
Snyder noted that his views on this issue were reinforced by the war in Ukraine. He cited instances of the Russian military’s use of technology—specifically NVIDIA chips in drones—which underscores the importance of discussing the impact of AI on education.
The historian believes that, despite the potential benefits of artificial intelligence, society has limited time to prevent negative consequences for the educational process. He emphasized that the purpose of technology depends on how people use it.
Snyder also expressed concern that students might lose their independent learning skills if universities do not change their methods. He called for the preservation of a humanities-based education, which helps people go beyond algorithmic expectations.
As a practical solution, the historian suggested assigning writing tasks in class and organizing readings in a way that allows for discussion. In his view, this will help students realize their potential and retain knowledge.
