In this presentation, I'll review the recent data on student attitudes towards AI, which show consistent negative trends in students optimism that AI will make their lives better and their belief that AI itself is ultimately a positive force in the world. I'll then discuss the challenges and opportunities that these trends present for liberal arts faculty and institutions. I'll argue that, within a curriculum that prioritizes critical thinking and open discussion, students' growing antipathy towards AI can be a strength, because it makes them more resilient the totalizing narratives around AI promoted by technology companies and the media, and it makes them more likely to scrutinize their own AI use.
