GoKawiilEssay: A new father questions what to teach his son in the age of AGI
The writer, expecting his first child, reflects on Neil Postman's 1995 book The End of Education and historical predictions about technology replacing teachers, including Thomas Edison's 1913 claim that books would soon be obsolete. He revisits his own 2013 prediction that MOOCs would transform education and notes that institutions like Harvard, Yale, and Princeton have persisted for centuries despite shifting purposes.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The essay suggests that repeated historical predictions of technology displacing education have failed to materialize, which could imply skepticism toward current claims that AGI will similarly upend schooling or render certain skills obsolete. By invoking the Lindy Effect, the author seems to argue that institutions and practices with long track records may be more resilient to disruption than new technologies suggest, though this remains his personal interpretation rather than a settled conclusion.
- The piece draws on Neil Postman's 1995 book The End of Education to question education's purpose amid AGI advances.
- Historical predictions, including Thomas Edison's 1913 claim about books becoming obsolete, are cited as past failed forecasts about technology replacing traditional teaching.
- The author references the Lindy Effect and the long history of universities like Harvard and Yale to suggest institutional resilience against technological disruption.
The End of Education by Neil Postman — This is literally the book that sparked the article's reflections on education and purpose in an AI-saturated world. A thoughtful, prescient read for any parent or technologist wrestling with what schooling is really for. Worth having on your own shelf to revisit, just as the author did.
See The End of Education by Neil Postman on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: stevekrouse.com, 2026-10-20
Published there as: “What Shall I Teach My Son?”
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