The University in the AI Era
The essay argues that universities must shift their focus from memorization and standardized testing to teaching skills like critical thinking, creativity, and adaptability, which AI cannot easily replicate. It suggests that AI tools will fundamentally change how students learn and how educators assess understanding, potentially making current educational models obsolete.
Background
- This essay is from the creator of htmx, a small JavaScript library for building dynamic web interfaces. It's posted on htmx.org, so the author (Carson Gross) writes from a contrarian, anti-bloat perspective within web development.
- The piece argues that AI tools like ChatGPT fundamentally undermine the traditional university model, which relies on assessed assignments (essays, problem sets) to certify learning. If AI can do the work, the credential loses meaning.
- It proposes universities shift focus from "output assessment" (grading final work) to "process assessment" (evaluating drafts, discussions, oral exams, in-person work) — similar to how trades and creative arts already teach.
- This connects to a wider debate: as generative AI gets better, entire credentialing and hiring systems based on written work face pressure. The essay is not neutral — it's a provocative take aimed at tech and academic audiences who worry about AI's impact on education and professional signaling.