Opinion: What 370,000 college essays tell us about A.I.’s effects on creativity
Humans’ ability to come up with unexpected and original ideas is something to protect and nurture.
From The Times
June 15, 2026

Many people I talk to — from students to teachers to peers — tell me that they think it’s OK to use A.I. chatbots for brainstorming as long as they do the “real work” of writing, Rebecca Winthrop writes.

An illustration of document icons, all identical, filing out on a conveyor belt.

Kevin Van Aelst

Opinion

But this misunderstands something critical. Read the essay.

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