One signal

Mathematician Terry Tao argues that generative AI could reward fast output at the expense of the deliberate thought needed for doctoral education and scientific understanding. His proposed answer: departmental “cognitive sanctuaries” that encourage unhurried thinking and iterative judgement.

Why it matters

It is a pointed proposal from a prominent mathematician, not a report that universities have adopted such spaces. The idea raises a useful question for departments using generative AI: should they set aside work where speed and polished output are not the point?

Discuss: Should universities create AI-free spaces or assessment rules to protect slow, independent thinking, or would that confuse a teaching problem with a technology ban?

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