"the very foundation of modern academia has been blown to bits"
A discussion on Hacker News highlights concerns from academics that AI tools are enabling the mass production of passable PhD theses. The author reflects on how the evolution from physical libraries to search engines and now AI has fundamentally changed the nature of academic research.
Why it matters
This reflects a growing existential debate in higher education regarding the integrity of academic credentials and the impact of generative AI on critical thinking.
Daniel Lemire on X: "Tony Feng is a mathematics professor at UC Berkeley, and he tells us:
« In the past, the path to a math Ph.D. cultivated resilience, resourcefulness, critical thinking, and a healthy skepticism (…) but suddenly you can produce a passable Ph.D. thesis with the push of a button. »
Obviously, it is not just in mathematics. Obviously.
Want to write a PhD in sociology, education, computer science, or mechanical engineering? Press of a button.
Let us go back in time. I started university before the web. At the time, you had to go to a physical library to do research. You would wander through the (paper!) journals, find something interesting, and either read it there or make a copy or borrow it.
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