The End Of Deep Reading?: Impact of AI-assisted Reading Tools on University Learners' Academic and Critical Reading Skills

Since its outset in 2021, generative artificial intelligence (AI) is playing an increasingly central role in education, particularly in fostering critical thinking and literacy as many studies claim. Through an interdisciplinary approach combining Education Studies and Cognitive Science, this research project aims to investigate the influence of AI-enhanced reading tools on the critical reading and thinking skills of learners. By examining AI’s role in reading practices, we aim to understand how learners’ critical thinking skills are developed and applied in an AI-enhanced educational environment. This is a Basic Research project, aiming to deepen our understanding of the relationship between AI technologies and learners’ critical reading and thinking skills. The goal is not to develop a product or solution but to expand academic knowledge in the field.

Research Objectives
· Investigate the influence of AI on learners’ ability to critically engage with texts.
· Explore the cognitive and educational dimensions of AI in reading tasks.
· Analyze the benefits and challenges of AI-driven personalized reading support.

Research Project Type
This is a Basic Research project, aiming to deepen our understanding of the relationship between AI technologies and university learners’ critical reading and thinking skills. The goal is not to develop a product or solution but to expand academic knowledge in the field.

Participation Requirements
· Enthusiasm for contributing to a significant research project blending AI and education.
· Interest in building valuable research and academic writing skills.
· Eagerness to explore how AI can enhance cognitive and critical thinking processes.
· Desire for hands-on experience with AI-driven educational technologies.
· Collaborative mindset and openness to new experiences.
· Undergraduate student, preferably studying Social Sciences, Management, or Computer Science.
· B2/C1 level of English proficiency.