U. of Chicago Bans Tech, AI in Social Sciences Core Courses

What You Should Know

The University of Chicago is taking a decidedly different approach to AI: its undergraduate social-sciences division is going “analog.” Beginning this fall, core courses will generally prohibit classroom technology and ban AI assistance on coursework for both students and instructors. The goal is to give students space to read on their own, think for themselves, make mistakes, and engage directly with one another.

Why should educators care? Chicago’s policy is a reminder that sometimes the most thoughtful use of technology is knowing when not to use it. But institutions don’t necessarily need to choose between an AI ban and unrestricted access. Typerighter gives institutions the ability to set clear, course-specific boundaries around AI while providing transparency into the writing process—creating controlled spaces where students can use AI when it supports learning and work without it when the learning goal is to think independently.

The University of Chicago’s undergraduate social-sciences division will go “analog” this fall, implementing a blanket policy banning technology in class and AI assistance on coursework across the division’s core courses.

New restrictions apply to students and faculty members in required social-sciences core sequences, which students typically complete in three phases during their sophomore year. [Read the full article.]