Generative AI Itō-Wokashi Notebook : A Literary Journey into the Aesthetic Worlds of AI and Language

Abstract

This educational resource, Notes on the Aesthetic Delights of Generative AI, is a collection of practical insights designed to support humanities instructors in higher education as they integrate generative AI into their teaching. Adopting the form of a novel, the resource narratively explores the possibilities of dialogue and collaboration between humans and AI. At the heart of this resource is the proposal to introduce a new literary genre—“AI fiction”—into university education. By portraying AI not merely as a tool, but as a character in its own right, the aim is to explore the literary potential of generative AI and its significance within the humanities. The structure of the material is modeled on an actual university course: it begins with a dialogue between a professor and a journalist, followed by a short story generated by ChatGPT. This composition makes visible the collaborative relationship between humans and AI as “partners” in the co-creation of narrative.

In particular, the resource experiments with the fusion of literary knowledge and cutting-edge technology through flexible storytelling that draws upon classical literature and everyday life. The key concept of this work, linguistic life (言語生活), refers to language practices in which humans and AI interact and influence each other. Understanding this concept requires both creative and critical engagement. By examining coexistence with AI from this perspective, the resource invites a redefinition of literacy, contributing to the reconstruction of university and literacy education. The humanities must clarify their renewed mission and social value by adopting a complementary and critical stance toward the technological advancements of AI.