AI (anthropological inquiry) on AI (artificial intelligence)

Abstract

A short reflection of personal engagement with and an exploration of the unforeseen intersections between traditional educational paradigms and the disruptive force of AI. The reflection is not just about discovering a technological tool; it is about encountering a new form of activity, one that could potentially redefine the contours of education and learning. A reflection which brought me to realize that my interaction with ChatGPT, marked by an initial enchantment followed by a phase of critical scrutiny, mirrored the very human process of knowledge acquisition and validation. ChatGPT, with all its capabilities and limitations, was in a sense, as 'human' as any of my colleagues or myself. The process of engaging with, questioning, and validating the information it provided was not a testament to its shortcomings, but rather an affirmation of the critical, discerning approach that underpins scholarly work. In recognizing this, I found a renewed appreciation for the nuanced and complex interplay between human intelligence (from latin legere "choose, pick out, read, collect, gather") and artificial intelligence in the pursuit of knowledge.