We’ve all heard that one person in school say, “I haven’t read a book since third grade,” like it’s something to be proud of. News flash, it isn’t. Being able to read and actually comprehend (big word, I know) text is the coolest thing you can do.
According to the National Literacy Institute, as of 2024, 21% of American adults were illiterate. That’s higher than it has been in over 150 years. Even in the 1870s, literacy rates among American adults were higher than they are now. Frankly, that’s embarrassing.
How is someone supposed to perform, and ideally succeed, at their job if they don’t know how to read? The answer for a lot of people is to rely on artificial intelligence (AI) to do their jobs for them, just like they rely on it for their education.
According to the HEPI-Kortext research center, 92% of undergraduates use AI in some way, which means in a class of 20 people, about two aren’t using AI at all. Illiteracy rates have increased since the introduction of AI.
Even if you’re using AI to help understand a text, which I’ll admit to doing, you aren’t allowing your brain to actually comprehend what you’re reading. This leads to more AI usage, which then leads to less comprehe...