A Harvard graduate reflects on why AI chatbots can't replace the struggle of intellectual growth in college
By
Hannah Kim
Summary
Harvard computer science graduate Hannah Kim reflects on her college experience bookended by two transformative events: the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of ChatGPT. She argues that while AI tools like ChatGPT can generate answers, they cannot replicate the essential human process of intellectual and personal growth — the "becoming" that happens through struggle, uncertainty, and the messy journey of education. The essay explores how the pressure to optimize and use AI shortcuts threatens to undermine the very challenges that make learning meaningful.
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bskyA Harvard graduate reflects on why AI chatbots can't replace the struggle of intellectual growth in collegetechpolicy.pressKey quotes
· 3 pulledI started college in the aftermath of a global pandemic and graduated in the aftermath of ChatGPT. The first is behind us, but the second is here to stay.
The process of 'becoming' is the challenge no chatbot can solve.
Education isn't just about the destination — it's about the difficult, messy, and irreplaceable journey of getting there.
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