jordan pulse -

In a thought-provoking article published on March 15, 2026, Professor Dr. Ali Hayasat explores the identity crisis facing the modern intellectual in the age of Artificial Intelligence and digital abundance. He argues that while appearing "intellectual" has become easier due to smartphones and AI-generated content, the essence of true knowledge is increasingly under threat.
​The Shift from Information to Insight
​Dr. Hayasat highlights that the historical definition of an intellectual—a "walking library" who possesses rare information—is obsolete. Today, machines can retrieve and rephrase information in seconds. However, he asserts that AI remains incapable of:
​Ethical Positioning: Machines lack the ability to take a moral or critical stance on information.
​Human Spirit: AI cannot experience the "anxiety of questions" that has driven human thought throughout history.
​Wisdom: Abundance of information does not equate to wisdom; the modern intellectual must now act as an "engineer of questions" rather than a "vessel of answers."
​The Digital Crisis and Regional Conflict
​The article points to a practical example of this crisis: the current war in the Middle East. Digital platforms are flooded with AI-generated clips circulated as "facts" or "analysis," which are often laden with superstitions and unverified emotional content. Dr. Hayasat criticizes those who present themselves as intellectuals while merely reposting content without critical scrutiny. He suggests this phenomenon forces us to re-examine whether some intellectuals were ever more than mere "transmitters" of information—a critique he extends to the historical repetition of knowledge in Arab-Islamic culture.
​Redefining the Intellectual
​Rather than ending the era of the intellectual, Dr. Hayasat believes AI is redefining it. The modern intellectual’s role has shifted from being a guardian of information to being a "guardian of meaning." This role, he concludes, requires a human consciousness that artificial intelligence can never replicate.