USF Course Challenged Students to Question AI Reliance
As of late August 2026, students began exploring whether generative tools threaten independent human reasoning.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence
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Students at the University of San Francisco are analyzing the impact of artificial intelligence on critical thought through a team-taught course that began in late August 2026. The curriculum encourages participants to examine their own habits and dependence on generative technologies.
Why it matters
The course addresses widespread concerns that reliance on artificial intelligence leads to diminished independent reasoning and cognitive decline. Instructors hope to foster an examined life by blending engineering with classical philosophical perspectives.
At least 75% of the 20 students in the class expressed negative views regarding AI, citing concerns like job loss and factual errors. This reflects broader trends where 55% of adults under 30 report being more concerned than excited about the technology.
The players
University of San Francisco
The institution hosting the course on the intersection of human thought and artificial intelligence.
Charish Holland
A 19-year-old student enrolled in the University of San Francisco course.
Gabe Baruzzi
A 21-year-old student participating in the AI and the Future of Thinking course.
The details
Co-taught by a theologian and a systems engineer, the course titled AI and the Future of Thinking incorporates texts by thinkers such as René Descartes and John Locke to critique modern digital habits. Students including 19-year-old Charish Holland and 21-year-old Gabe Baruzzi are evaluating risks ranging from cybersecurity threats to potential declines in their own cognitive ability. The course builds on research from the University of Pennsylvania that found individuals often defer to software over their own critical judgment.
Timeline
Spring 2026: University of San Francisco initially offered the course.
Late August 2026: The University of San Francisco began the fall semester session.
September 29, 2026: Date of article publication.
Across the Bay
This course follows a trend established by the 2025 University of Chicago seminar which sought to formalize the study of machine intelligence in the humanities. It mirrors similar recent curriculum shifts at institutions like Arizona State University that aim to anchor rapidly evolving tech in classical philosophy.
Students and residents interested in the intersection of philosophy and tech can look for future course listings within the University of San Francisco academic catalog. Those concerned about cognitive impact can review the cited Penn research on human-AI decision-making dynamics.
The takeaway
The essential insight is that reliance on generative tools can shift the burden of critical thinking away from the individual. Readers should watch for future curriculum updates at local universities that prioritize traditional reasoning methods alongside emerging digital literacy.
Further reading
For more on how local institutions are responding to the rise of machine learning, see our ongoing coverage in Artificial Intelligence.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Forbes.
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Do you worry that using artificial intelligence tools is making you less capable of critical thinking?
