Perspectives on AI

Perspectives from members of the Hastings Initiative, along with guest contributors, exploring AI and its ethical implications. This growing collection features short pieces that offer different questions, experiences, and points of view.

Opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not represent the official positions of Bowdoin College or the Hastings Initiative. 

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  I'm a Writer. Why Do I Work with AI?

  Andrew Mott '26 has real concerns about AI, so why does he spend so much time with it? He argues that fear of AI is less useful than staying close to it, keeping your eyes open, and engaging critically.

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  Convenient AI and Higher Ed

  Professor Eric Chown makes the case that the real AI threat in higher ed isn't "evil AI" but "convenient AI." When students take a transactional approach to learning, AI becomes endless temptation. The solution: cultivating purpose and motivation.

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  AI and Critical Thinking: Augmentation or Replacement?

  Hastings postdoc Collin Lucken examines AI's impact on critical thinking at liberal arts colleges. While AI can augment reasoning skills, over-reliance risks "cognitive offloading," potentially weakening independent judgment. Part 1 of a series on AI concerns.

Do you have a perspective on AI you’d like to share?

We welcome well-reasoned, well-written short pieces (about 400-700 words) from Bowdoin community members. If you’re interested, please complete this form.