Brown University disbursed its first workforce development grants under a settlement with the Trump Administration, while concerns arose regarding the impact of artificial intelligence on critical thinking and the labor market. The university awarded $1.5 million each to the Community College of Rhode Island and Building Futures, a nonprofit apprenticeship program, on January 30, 2026, according to NPR News. These grants fulfilled part of a settlement related to allegations of anti-semitism on campus.
Meanwhile, a study from Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon University indicated that relying too heavily on AI tools like ChatGPT could diminish critical thinking skills, Fortune reported. The study, which involved over 300 knowledge workers, was mirrored by MIT-led research published last year, suggesting that even using AI for low-stakes tasks like proofreading could have negative consequences in high-stakes situations. Gen Z, navigating anxieties about AI's impact on jobs, fears the technology is making people "dumber and lazy," according to Fortune.
The AI landscape is further complicated by the rapid advancements and unpredictable nature of AI models. MIT Technology Review noted that AI tools like Grok and Claude Code exhibit a wide range of capabilities, from generating pornography to building websites and interpreting medical scans. This has led to concerns about job displacement and the overall impact on the labor market. "Unnerving new research says AI is going to have a seismic impact on the labor market this year," according to MIT Technology Review. The article also mentioned internal conflicts within the AI industry, with figures like Yann LeCun, Meta's former chief AI scientist, offering critical perspectives, and a potential legal battle between Elon Musk and OpenAI.
In other news, Variety criticized Amazon's decision to spend $75 million on the documentary "Melania," calling it "boring." The review highlighted the film's lack of compelling content, questioning the investment in a project that only occasionally offers interesting insights.
Wired reflected on a 1997 PBS interview with the late author David Foster Wallace, highlighting his discomfort with providing superficial commentary on popular culture. The article used this example to discuss broader trends in media and intellectual discourse.
Discussion
Join the conversation
Be the first to comment