AI is changing reading, writing, and learning - Here’s what that means

We hear it all the time: AI is changing the world. It’s an easy thing to say, but when the hype is this loud, it’s hard to tell what’s real and what’s just noise. Experts and opportunists start to sound the same.

But AI is changing the world in ways that actually matter. It’s reshaping three things that are fundamental to how we think and function: reading, writing, and learning. These aren’t just skills—they’re the foundation of how we engage with knowledge, process ideas, and communicate.

The shift is already happening. Most people just haven’t caught up yet.

READING HAS ALREADY CHANGED—PEOPLE JUST DON’T WANT TO ADMIT IT

When I work with educators helping them rethink how their institutions function in an AI world, I ask them one question: Do you think your students are reading the way you did growing up?

Most hesitate. They want to say yes. But the truth is, reading isn’t what it used to be.

A generation ago, reading meant sitting down with a book and turning pages. Now, more and more people say “I listened to it” instead of “I read it.” The audiobook market is growing exponentially, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it eventually overtakes print books. AI is only accelerating this shift.

When I talk to students, I see that many of them no longer need to read in the traditional sense. If they have a question about a book, AI can summarize it, answer their questions, and even generate discussions between imaginary scholars. If an audiobook doesn’t exist, AI can create one on demand.

At some point, we have to ask: What happens when the default mode of consuming books is no longer reading at all?

STUDENTS HAVE ALWAYS LOOKED FOR SHORTCUTS—AI JUST MADE THEM INSTANT

This isn’t new. Students have been trying to get around reading assignments forever.

CliffsNotes launched in 1958 for exactly this reason. Then came SparkNotes, YouTube explainers, and study guides designed to help students avoid long hours of deep reading. AI just took the shortcut from minutes to seconds.

I’ve seen students use AI to generate summaries, key takeaways, and even debates about a book without ever turning a page. AI-powered tools like Google’s NotebookLM can simulate discussions between historical figures, providing insights without requiring the student to engage with the original text at all.

The old model—read a book, write an essay—is breaking. It has been for a while. AI just made the collapse impossible to ignore.

This is why the education system is unprepared. Schools still operate as if deep reading and writing are the only ways to engage with knowledge. Meanwhile, students are adapting faster than their institutions.

The result? A widening gap between how education is structured and how people actually learn today.

WRITING IS NEXT—AND IT WON’T SURVIVE THE SAME WAY

If reading is changing, then writing is next.

The publishing industry survived the shift from print to ebooks and audiobooks because the creation process stayed the same. Books were still written, edited, and sold—the format just changed.

AI disrupts everything.

Writing isn’t just about words on a page—it’s about structuring and communicating ideas. Now, AI can generate book summaries, structured arguments, and even entire essays instantly.

This will hit two areas the hardest:

1. Textbooks And Education: AI can generate personalized learning materials instead of relying on mass-produced textbooks. One-size-fits-all textbooks are on the way out.
2. Business And Self-Help Books: Most people don’t read these books for the experience—they read them for frameworks, strategies, and practical advice. AI can extract those insights instantly, making traditional books less valuable.

I’ve talked to publishers and authors who are worried about what happens next. The question isn’t, “Will AI replace writers?”—it’s, “What will books even look like in a world where AI reshapes how we consume information?”

EDUCATION IS AT A CROSSROADS

This isn’t just about books. It’s about learning itself.

I’ve worked with educators who are trying to make sense of this moment, and I see two paths forward. Schools can either fight against AI—clinging to outdated methods—or embrace it and redefine how learning works.

Some institutions will try to ban AI-generated work. Others will recognize that the way we measure learning must change. If students can produce essays in seconds, then education has to shift from testing memory to teaching critical thinking and application.

The smartest educators I work with are already adapting. They’re thinking beyond essays and looking at how AI can be a tool for deeper learning, not just an easy way out. They’re asking:

• How do we teach students to engage critically with AI-generated content?
• How do we shift assessments from recall to reasoning?
• What skills will actually matter when AI can handle so much of the work?

The old way of learning isn’t coming back. Schools that accept this and evolve will thrive. The ones that don’t will fall behind.

When I look at the next decade, I don’t worry about whether students will stop reading. They’ll read differently, just like we all do now. But the way we define learning has to evolve with it.

The institutions that figure this out will shape the future. The ones that don’t? They’ll be left behind.