Core Claim

Generative AI disrupts the traditional distinction between self and subject—two fundamental concepts in how we understand identity. AI doesn't just create content; it challenges our assumptions about uniqueness, authenticity, and the social construction of who we are.

The Distinction: Self vs. Subject

Drawing from Nealon and Giroux's The Theory Toolbox:

The Self (Inward, Unique)

We tend to think of the "self" as:

• Primary, untouched by cultural influences
• The essence of our unique individuality
• An inwardly generated phenomenon
• The "soul," "personality," or "real me" that causes our actions

The self is the strangely intangible core we take as the source of our lives. This shows up in humanities courses through "the individual versus society"—as if we must fend off cultural influence to be truly authentic.

The Subject (Outward, Social)

The "subject" is anything but unique:

• A position or placeholder anyone could fill
• Defined by place among social positions: student, teacher, doctor, suspect
• Outwardly generated—an effect of social laws and codes
• We recognize ourselves as subjects when demands are made: show your ID, answer the question, enter your password

The subject is always understood in reference to preexisting social conditions. We don't choose our gender, race, class, ethnicity—nor do we vote on what those attributes mean. We learn what it means to be from a certain class, just as we learn how to act like a "proper" man or woman.

"That individuals are socially constructed is easy enough to say, but is a bit tough to swallow when you are the 'cultural phenomenon' that's socially constructed, called before the law."

How Generative AI Disrupts This

Challenging Uniqueness

AI-generated content demonstrates the intricate ways cultural influences shape individuality. Through diverse, personalized outputs, AI shows that even seemingly unique qualities are products of cultural and social contexts.

Fluid Subject Positions

Because generative AI can replicate a wide range of subject positions, the idea that certain roles are inherently tied to specific individuals is called into question. The "subject" becomes dynamic and fluid. AI algorithms create content from multiple perspectives, blurring lines between predefined roles.

Mirroring Social Attribution

AI systems are trained on datasets containing inherent biases. AI outputs reflect and perpetuate existing social conditions and stereotypes. Examining AI outputs draws attention to how social attributes like gender, race, class are embedded in technology—prompting questions about algorithmic fairness.

New Narratives of Identity Formation

AI-generated stories, art, and expressions offer alternative ways of understanding ourselves. This challenges preexisting norms and fosters more inclusive conceptions of identity. The tapestry of possibilities expands.

Individuality in the Age of AI

Before AI, individuality was defined by:

• Philosophy: Uniqueness, personal autonomy (Sartre's existentialism)
• Humanities: Unique characters, personal journeys, emotional expression (Romanticism)
• Social Sciences: Personality traits, cognitive processes, identity within social structures

Now, individuality is not solely defined by inherent traits but also shaped by interactions with AI-generated content. Our unique identities are influenced and expanded by engagement with AI—complicating the notion of an untouched, authentic self.

The "Subject" Called Before AI

When we interact with AI systems, we are called into subject positions:

• Enter your prompt
• Accept the terms
• Verify you're human
• Rate this response

These are moments of subjection—we recognize ourselves through the demands systems make of us. AI adds new dimensions: Who is accountable for AI-generated content? What happens when the "subject" before the law is partly machine-generated?

Why This Matters

For Education

Students engaging with AI are navigating questions of authorship, authenticity, and identity in real time. When a student uses AI to write, whose voice is it? Where does their "self" end and the "subject position" of AI-assisted writer begin?

For Ethics

If subjectivity is fluid and AI can occupy multiple subject positions, what are the ethical implications? Questions of responsibility, accountability, and authenticity become more complex.

For Literacy

Digital literacy now includes understanding how AI shapes our sense of self. Being "literate" means recognizing that interactions with AI systems aren't neutral—they construct us as subjects even as we use them as tools.

Open Questions

• If AI can replicate diverse perspectives, what remains uniquely human about identity?
• How do we preserve authentic voice in AI-mediated environments?
• What happens to the concept of "expertise" when AI can simulate expert subject positions?
• Is the self/subject distinction still useful, or does AI collapse it entirely?

Key Formulations (Preserve These)

"We tend to think of the 'self' as that which is primary, untouched by cultural influences. We like to believe that our selfhood is the essence of our unique individuality."

"The subject is defined by its place among various social positions: suspect, student, teacher, doctor, patient."

"We recognize ourselves as subjects most clearly when a demand is made of us: show us your driver's license, enter your password, answer the question."

"That individuals are socially constructed is easy enough to say, but is a bit tough to swallow when you are the 'cultural phenomenon' that's socially constructed."

"In the age of generative AI, individuality is not solely defined by our inherent traits but is also shaped by our interactions with AI-generated content."