What Happens When AI Reads for You? | Prof. Naomi Baron explains

In this thought-provoking episode of Business Talk, Dr. Naomi Baron, Professor Emerita of Linguistics at American University in Washington, DC, shares key insights from her latest book, Reader Bot: What Happens When AI Reads and Why It Matters. While much of the conversation around AI has centred on its ability to write, Dr. Baron shifts the lens to an equally critical but underexplored question, what happens when AI reads for us? Drawing on compelling research and striking statistics, she reveals how reading habits have declined sharply across generations, with only 14% of U.S. 8th graders reading for fun in 2023, compared to 35% in 1984, and how the rise of AI reading tools risks deepening this crisis. From the neurological benefits of deep reading and its role in building critical thinking, to the cultural biases embedded in large language models, Dr. Baron makes a powerful case for why human engagement with text is not just an educational concern, but a fundamental matter of preserving our cognitive and democratic potential. This podcast is brought to you by Global Management Consultancy. To learn more about our activities, follow us on our social media platforms listed below: 1) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hellomrbhatt/ 2) X: https://x.com/hellomrbhatt Disclaimer: 1. The background music incorporated in this video is the intellectual property of its respective developer and is protected under applicable copyright laws. Notwithstanding that it is a free-to-use version, Business Talk, Global Management Consultancy, and Deepak Bhatt do not own, and expressly do not claim, any rights, title, or interest in or to this music. 2. Prof. Naomi Baron shared key insights from her book, “Reader Bot: What Happens When AI Reads and Why It Matters”, in an engaging episode of the Business Talk podcast. The uploaded video contains copyrighted content, so changing any graphics, music, or on-screen appearance of the author or host is not allowed.