We are delighted to share that the International Symposium on Artificial Intelligence (AI): Bridging Language, Literature, and Learning in the Digital Age, organized by the Department of English, Forman Christian College (A Chartered University), successfully took place on January 31, 2025.
This symposium explored the transformative role of AI in reshaping traditional paradigms in language, literature, and education. It aimed to foster interdisciplinary dialogue by bridging archival traditions with AI-driven innovations, redefining pedagogical approaches, and contributing to sustainable development in humanities research.
Inaugural Address: Dr. Douglas Trimble
Dr. Trimble (Vice Rector for Academic Affairs) warmly greeted esteemed national and international guests and speakers, emphasizing AI’s transformative role in enriching the humanities. He highlighted the university’s pioneering initiatives, including launching a Digital Library, offering extensive faculty training, and promoting creative projects that blend AI with literary and linguistic studies. Quoting Phil Christman, he cautioned against unbridled technological adoption, urging the preservation of timeless humanistic values such as truth, beauty, and goodness. The Vice Rector expressed optimism for a day filled with insightful discussions and innovative, collaborative learning.
Welcome Note: Dr. Altaf Ullah Khan
In his welcome note, Dr. Aftab Ullah Khan (Professor & Dean of Humanities, FCCU) thanked speakers, guests, faculty, and students while underscoring AI’s transformative role in academia and business. He highlighted China’s DeepSeek, a new tool that, despite minimal investment, has already disrupted the international financial market. Comparing generative AI to earlier innovations like the first dictionary, he noted its ability to learn from its mistakes—producing both profound insights and occasional errors. The Dean also raised ethical concerns, citing incidents like Amazon’s removal of books due to AI misattribution. Ultimately, he framed this era as one of groundbreaking innovation, challenging us to harness AI’s potential responsibly while inspiring creativity and resilience.
Introduction to International Symposium: Dr. Fatima Syeda
Dr. Fatima Syeda (Professor & Chairperson of the Department of English, FCCU) opened the Symposium by expressing deep gratitude to key organizers and speakers, acknowledging their pivotal roles in shaping the event. She posed questions about whether humanity and literature are dying, arguing instead that artificial intelligence serves as an assistive tool rather than a replacement for human creativity. Drawing parallels with historical shifts—from the advent of writing and the printing press to digital innovations—she emphasized that each transformation spurred new forms of literary expression. Ultimately, she invited participants to harness AI’s potential to enrich English literature and language while preserving the unique spark of human imagination.
Context & Perspective: Mr. Adeel Khalid
Mr. Adeel Khalid (Lecturer, Department of English Language), convener of this International Symposium, highlighted the transformative impact of AI in reshaping education, research, and policy. He outlined the Symposium’s focus on integrating AI into literary studies, linguistics, and language education, emphasizing its role in fostering cross-cultural exchanges. Rather than viewing AI as a competitor to human intelligence, he argued that it serves as a valuable assistive tool. By blending revitalized traditions such as digitalized archival systems with innovations like multimodal textuality and algorithmic text generation, the event aimed to explore both opportunities and challenges. Ultimately, the symposium sought to forge new pathways for research, pedagogy, and policy in the humanities.
International Keynotes
From Print to Pixel : Textuality and Meaning-Making in the AI Age
Dr. Reham (Associate Fellow at the Lever Hulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence, University of Cambridge, UK, Winner of the Robert Coover Award, Coauthor of the novel Al-Barrah, the first Arabic artificial intelligence novel) analyzed the transformation of literature from traditional print to digital and AI-driven formats. She reviewed the evolution of textuality through various stages, including papyrus, manuscripts, printed books, and digital texts, highlighting the role of hypertext and social media in reshaping narrative forms. The impact of AI on authorship was deliberated, where the boundaries between human- and machine-generated texts blur, leading to disputes over authorship and collaborative creative processes.
Her recent work, Al-Barrah, the first pixel novel to combine augmented reality and hologram technologies with Arabic language text, points toward augmented reality. It challenges conventional reading, shifting readers from passive consumers to co-creators of meaning through an immersive reading interface. Ultimately, the presentation envisioned a future where the lines between fiction and reality, as well as author and reader, become increasingly fluid in the digital age.
AI and Humanities: Transforming Language, Literature, and Learning in the Digital Era
Dr. Manvender (Director of Executive Education and Professional Development, University Utara Malaysia, and Associate Professor of Applied Linguistics, School of Languages, Civilization, and Philosophy, University Utara Malaysia) explored the multifaceted role of AI in reshaping human expression and education. She highlighted AI applications in language processing, from bridging linguistic barriers with advanced translation tools to revolutionizing language education through adaptive learning technologies.
She also addressed the ethical considerations and challenges of integrating AI with the humanities, including issues of equity, cultural sensitivity, and accountability. Emphasizing the synergy between technological innovation and humanistic inquiry, the presentation advocated for collaborative efforts to harness AI’s potential responsibly.
National Keynotes
AI in Linguistics & Literature: Ethical Considerations and Innovations
Dr. Ayaz (Professor and Dean of Languages and Literature, IIUI) explored the potential of integrating AI into linguistics and literature, enhancing natural language processing and creative writing. He highlighted how tools like ChatGPT, Google Translate, and Duolingo are transforming language learning and communication. AI also plays a crucial role in digitizing ancient texts, creating audiobooks, and analyzing stylistic elements. However, he emphasized the importance of addressing ethical concerns, including data privacy, biases in AI algorithms, and plagiarism, particularly in generative content. Stressing the need for policy-guided practices, he underscored the importance of responsibly navigating AI’s creative and assistive potential.
AI & the Quest for Intelligence: Emerging Trajectories in Literary Scholarship
Dr. Fatima (Professor and Chairperson, Department of English) demonstrated how AI tools, such as Claude, Toolsaday, Writesonic, ChatGPT, and Ideogram assist literary scholarship by supporting the creation and analysis of texts. While these tools enhance intellectual processes, they fall short in capturing the emotional, psychological, and cultural depth that human creators provide. AI excels in pattern recognition but lacks the ability to generate new ideas through ‘abductive’ reasoning, which is crucial in literature. She brought attention to the idea of AI being seen as a supportive tool, not a replacement for human intuition, creativity, and emotional intelligence. Therefore, urging students and scholars to use AI responsibly.
Redefining the Literary Canvas: The Confluence of Technology and Creativity
The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in creative writing is reshaping literary studies by challenging traditional ideas of human authorship, altering narrative structures, and enhancing expression. However, Dr. Zahid (Associate Professor & Chair of the Department of English Language and Literature at the University of Lahore) examined its long-term impact, which remains uncertain, as the vast processing power of AI may lead to a homogenization of literary content and taste. This raises concerns about the suppression of indigenous voices and cultural narratives, as AI could simplify complex idioms and traditions.
A Human-AI Synergy in the Humanities
Dr. Sonia (Assistant Professor, PhD Royal Holloway University of London, UK, Faculty of Languages & Literature, International Islamic University Islamabad, Pakistan) discussed how the integration of AI in the humanities transforms literary analysis, education, and creativity, enhancing text analysis, sentiment evaluation, and authorship attribution. AI aids in preserving rare manuscripts, translating ancient languages, and broadening access to marginalized literary traditions. However, the rise of AI-generated content raises ethical concerns about authorship and authenticity. While AI can expand creative possibilities and democratize literature through multilingual exchange, it may also obscure cultural nuances, challenging traditional literary practices. Her presentation explored how human-AI collaboration can preserve critical, cultural, and ethical values while improving research efficiency and educational access.
Digital Data Analytics in Languages & Literature in the age of AI
The concluding keynote speaker deliberated the application of Digital Data Analytics in languages, literature, and linguistics, with a particular focus on AI and Natural Language Processing (NLP). Dr. Khalid (Postdoctoral Research, University of Birmingham, UK, Department of English, Faculty of Languages & Literature, International Islamic University Islamabad, Pakistan) simplified how language models analyze massive datasets through pattern recognition and computational linguistics, drawing parallels with human language’s structure and functionality.
Attention was placed on how AI processes data through methods such as tokenization, sentiment analysis, and entity recognition, as well as how digitization has transformed fields like lexicography, grammatical studies, and literary analysis. He also touched on the use of big data and tools like Python in processing and analyzing linguistic patterns across languages.