Opinion: Artificial intelligence robs us of the essence of what makes us human

https://www.concordmonitor.com/2026/05/02/my-turn-ai-threat-human-meaning/

Publish Date: 2026-05-02 06:00:00

Here is a summary of the article in an unordered list with the key points:

– The Concord Monitor published an article about the “burgeoning crisis in NH schools” regarding student use of AI, highlighting students’ discouragement and cognitive deterioration from relying on AI to the detriment of their own education.
– Jeremy Margolis quotes high school students who claim that AI use has instilled a sense of futility as they feel that even hard work would not lead to better grades than AI-generated submissions.
– Marc Watkins, a high school teacher, similarly emphasizes how AI’s ability to mimic human work challenges what it means to be human and prompts questions about meaning and self-actualization in a world where AI can outperform humans.
– The author then turns to his own perspective as someone who experienced life before AI and argues that engaging deeply in a craft, whether photography or writing, through rigorous effort and process allows individuals to make work their own and find meaning, in contrast to the generic and impersonal nature of AI-generated content.
– The author argues that education should focus less on regurgitation for grades and more on becoming proficient in skills and passions in order to engage meaningfully with the world, with the effort and struggle inherent in mastering a craft being what makes us human.
– Ultimately, the author believes that engaging deeply in a craft through difficulty and struggle allows us to manifest our personal vision and meaning, in opposition to the impersonal nature of AI-generated content.