Critical Literacy in an AI World

Generative AI is changing how people read, write, create, and make sense of information. Critical Literacy in an AI World by Kathy A. Mills and Amanda Gutierrez brings critical literacy to that shift, examining not only what AI tools can do, but how their texts, algorithms, and everyday uses shape human experience.

Across eight chapters, the authors connect theoretical perspectives with practical applications. The result is a book about reading AI critically, composing with it thoughtfully, and recognizing the questions of power and responsibility woven into digital life.

Read AI through a critical literacy lens

The book begins with the foundations and history of critical AI literacy, then turns to algorithmic agency: how readers might better understand and respond to the computational systems that mediate digital practices. Its focus is not simply on using new tools, but on examining how they represent the world and influence decisions.

From algorithmic reading to generative writing

Dedicated chapters explore critical reading, writing and multimodal composition with generative AI, and the relationship between human creativity, aesthetics, and AI-generated work. Together, these topics invite readers to consider how interpretation and authorship change when AI becomes part of the process.

People, ethics, and the systems around us

Mills and Gutierrez also address emotional relationships with chatbots, ethical AI, and social justice. These discussions place human experience and power dynamics at the center of the conversation, rather than treating artificial intelligence as a technology separate from society.

For students, researchers, and educators

Students and researchers in literacy and educational technology will find a sustained examination of critical AI literacy. Teachers are also part of the book’s intended readership: it considers critical pedagogies, curricula, and assessment for learning in AI-shaped text environments.

Critical Literacy in an AI World offers a focused way to think about the reading, writing, teaching, and ethical questions emerging around generative AI—and how critical literacy can help make those questions visible.