Why Reading Still Matters in the Age of AI

In this episode of Social Learning Amplified, host Eric Mazur speaks with writer and educator Jonathan Malesic—author of The End of Burnout—about how generative AI is reshaping reading and writing in higher education. Together, they explore pressing questions: Are students still motivated to read deeply? Can AI tools support or sabotage real learning? What’s lost when students (and faculty) turn to summaries and shortcuts?Drawing on Malesic’s essays in The New York Times, The Atlantic, and The Chronicle of Higher Education, this thoughtful conversation examines how educators can foster intrinsic motivation and rebuild student confidence in reading. They discuss strategies for reintroducing long-form reading, the shifting value of writing assignments, and whether the academy can still champion intellectual growth beyond job training.