Fearful of the classics? An app with AI makes them more accessible
Two philosophy professors have been making calls to prominent authors and intellectuals over the past year with an unusual, perhaps heretical proposal. They have asked these thinkers if, in exchange for a good payment, they wouldn’t mind becoming artificial intelligence chatbots.
John Kaag, one of the academics, is a professor at the University of Massachusetts Lowell and known for writing books like “Hiking With Nietzsche” and “American Philosophy: A Love Story,” which blend philosophy and memoirs. Clancy Martin, Kaag’s partner in the project, is a professor at the University of Missouri in Kansas City and the author of 10 books, including “How Not to Kill Yourself,” a candid memoir about his mental health struggles and 10 suicide attempts.
Both became friends 14 years ago when Kaag was impressed by an essay Martin wrote for Harper’s and decided to give him a call. They bonded over their disillusionment with the isolation of the academic world and their belief that philosophy can be useful to more people if only they studied it.
Over time, 44-year-old Kaag and 57-year-old Martin also bonded over their personal struggles. Both have been married three times and have faced death. (In 2020, Kaag suffered a sudden cardiac arrest after a workout at the gym).
How they ended up calling renowned writers out of the blue is another story.
In April 2023, Kaag received an email from John Dubuque, a businessman who had become a sort of patron.
John Dubuque had an idea to create an app that would bring classic literature to life using the latest technology. The app would feature the voices and commentary of famous authors like Margaret Atwood and John Banville, making these texts more engaging and less intimidating for readers.
Kaag and Martin were intrigued by the idea and saw it as an opportunity to make classic literature more accessible to a wider audience. They decided to collaborate with Dubuque on this innovative project.
The AI-powered app would allow users to interact with virtual versions of these authors, asking questions, discussing themes, and gaining insights into the texts. This interactive approach aimed to demystify classic literature and make it more engaging for readers of all backgrounds.
The app quickly gained popularity among students, book lovers, and even casual readers who were curious about the classics but found them daunting. The combination of cutting-edge technology and the timeless wisdom of these authors proved to be a winning formula.
Kaag and Martin were pleased to see their vision come to life and to witness the impact of their project on the literary world. By harnessing the power of AI, they had succeeded in breaking down barriers to classic literature and opening doors to a new generation of readers.
