The Future of Writing: Creating the Playbook for Human-AI Collaboration

The webinar begins with an introduction by Jenny Maxwell, Head of Education at Grammarly, who sets the stage for a discussion on the future of AI in writing. She outlines the format of the webinar, including muting attendees, a Q&A session, and the provision of close captioning. The importance of writing in the era of generative AI is emphasized, with a focus on how it has disrupted traditional teaching and learning. The role of Grammarly as a trusted companion in writing for 15 years is highlighted, along with the introduction of two distinguished guests from the University of Mississippi, Stephen Moore and Mark Watkins, who bring expertise in writing, rhetoric, and AI integration in education.

Mark Watkins and Stephen Moore discuss the enduring value of writing as a learning tool despite the advent of generative AI. They emphasize that writing is a reflective process integral to daily practice, which cannot be replaced by AI. Drawing on a tweet by OpenAI's co-president, they argue that writing's role in learning and generating new insights remains profound. The conversation also touches on the importance of expository writing skills and the need for clarity and specificity when interacting with AI models, suggesting that traditional writing skills are essential for effective AI collaboration.

The panelists explore the impact of AI on writing as an assessment tool in education. They acknowledge that traditional writing assessments designed to measure recall or memorization are becoming outdated and must be rethought. The discussion highlights the importance of writing for learning and reflection, suggesting that while AI can augment the writing process, it should not replace the personal engagement and understanding that come with human writing. The conversation also points to the need for developing new forms of assessment that better reflect the integration of AI in the writing process.

Academic integrity in the age of AI is a central concern addressed by the panel. They discuss the challenges posed by AI detection tools, which may not be reliable and can result in false positives or negatives, particularly affecting non-native speakers. The panelists advocate for human-to-human conversations to understand student misuse of AI and stress the importance of faculty AI literacy to set accurate and reasonable guidelines for student use of AI. They also emphasize the need for transparency and trust in the teacher-student relationship regarding AI's role in education.

The conversation turns to how faculty can support students in navigating the new landscape of AI in writing. The panelists stress the importance of developing AI literacy among faculty and students to harness the benefits of generative AI responsibly. They share examples of creative classroom applications of AI, such as using AI-generated drafts for revision exercises, and highlight the need for guardrails to ensure students are learning effectively. The discussion underscores the importance of trust, transparency, and informed optimism in the evolving educational landscape.

The panelists discuss the role of generative AI in preparing students for future academic and professional challenges. They emphasize the need for students to develop skills that complement AI tools, such as critical thinking, effective decision-making, and reflection. The conversation also touches on the importance of maintaining human creativity and authorial voice in writing, suggesting that while AI can assist in drafting and research, the creative and reflective aspects of writing should remain a human endeavor.

The discussion focuses on how Grammarly for Education aims to foster human-AI collaboration in academic writing. The panelists explore the potential of AI to assist students, especially those with disabilities, in the writing process while ensuring that human creativity and critical thinking are not compromised. They also address the need for AI tools to be used responsibly and ethically, with transparency about their use in academic work.

The conversation concludes with a reflection on the implications of AI for equity and access in education. The panelists consider the challenges of ensuring that all students have access to the latest AI tools and the potential impact of using free versions of AI software on the quality of student work. They also discuss the importance of faculty training in AI literacy as a means of preparing students for the evolving demands of the workforce and academia.