Reading Deeply or Reading Efficiently? A Critical Reflection on the Act of Reading with the Advent of Generative AI in Higher Education

Abstract

In the essay, Svensson attempts to shed some light on the status of reading in Swedish higher education: What does it mean to read when generative AI is just a few clicks away? Inspired by reading researcher Maryanne Wolf’s (2018) concept of deep reading, Svensson advocates for revaluing time-consuming, analog reading. Despite the allure of high efficiency through AI-assisted reading, only humans can perceive connections, pair experience with emotion, and personally reflect on the reading experience. Svensson hopes that reading will be highlighted and given more prominence for both teachers and students in the future.