E. Brumberger
Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) changes what it means to “read” and “write” visual material; it complicates visual literacy by shifting both the amount and the types of knowledge needed for both encoding and decoding images. In addition to the already extensive toolkit needed for visual literacy, GenAI requires proficiency with both visual and verbal language, broader knowledge of intellectual property issues, and more sophisticated problem-solving skills for detecting and addressing different types of failures, biases, and deepfakes. Ultimately, it calls for a deeply analytical approach to creating and consuming visual media. As educators, we will need to think carefully about how best to help students develop these skills amid numerous other curricular priorities. GenAI itself may offer some opportunities for supporting that teaching and learning.