Academia, in its truest sense, was meant to be a space of curiosity, collaboration, and collective growth. Yet, over time, it has become a battleground of competitiveness, where success is too often measured by how one outshines others rather than how one uplifts them. This shift has distanced academia from its human essence and transformed it into something more machine-oriented- driven by numbers, metrics, and relentless competition.
But the question we must ask is: What does this mean for the future of humanity, especially in an era where Artificial Intelligence is rapidly surpassing human capabilities?
The Rise of AI and the Question of Human Purpose
For centuries, humans have celebrated themselves as the most capable species on Earth- innovators, problem-solvers, and thinkers. Today, however, AI challenges that pride. Machines now write, analyze, solve complex problems, and even teach. Very soon, many tasks we consider uniquely human will be done faster and more efficiently by AI.
If machines take over much of what we “do,” then what will be the purpose of being human? The answer cannot lie in competing with machines, because that is a battle we are destined to lose. Instead, the answer must lie in preserving and nurturing what machines can never replicate—our humanness.
Why Academia Must Re-Center Around Kindness
Academia has the power to influence not only the future of knowledge but also the values that guide society. A machine-oriented academia values speed, output, and metrics. A human-oriented academia values kindness, inclusivity, and curiosity.
Kindness in academia means creating environments where collaboration is stronger than competition, where failure is seen as part of growth, and where knowledge is pursued for human betterment, not just for citations and rankings.
In a world increasingly mechanized, the simple act of kindness- mentoring with patience, giving credit generously, sharing ideas openly- becomes revolutionary.
The Silent Decline of Human Thinking
Another subtle yet alarming trend is the decline in human engagement with thinking itself. Entertainment, once requiring physical or mental effort, has now become almost effortless. With endless streams of passive content, one can spend hours entertained without moving a muscle or engaging a single thought.
This ease has dulled the edge of curiosity and critical reflection, qualities essential to academia and to the spirit of being human.
If thinking becomes optional, we risk raising generations who outsource both labor and thought to machines.
A Call for Human-Centered Academia
The urgency of our time is not just to advance science and technology but to preserve humanness within progress. Academia must step forward as a guardian of this humanness. That requires cultivating kindness, encouraging genuine thinking, and resisting the blind race of competitiveness.
If AI is destined to be our collaborator or even competitor, let it be so. But let us not forget that being human is not about being the fastest or the smartest; it is about being compassionate, curious, and connected.
And for that, we need kind people in academia.
