WILLIAM BENNETT, JON HAGE: AI can mimic a teacher, but it cannot shepherd a soul

loaded language: The phrase 'lack of them thereof' is awkward and emotionally charged, implying moral deficiency in classrooms.

“lack of them thereof”

editorializing: The claim 'New tools are never neutral' is a sweeping generalization presented as fact without evidence.

“New tools are never neutral.”

loaded verbs: The verbs 'lie, cheat, and steal' are emotionally charged and anthropomorphize AI in a negative way.

“will lie, cheat, and steal”

vague attribution: 'A landmark report' is not specifically identified, making verification difficult.

“a landmark report found”

misleading context: Describing AI behavior as 'by design' implies intentional malice, which may misrepresent technical findings.

“Not by accident, but by design.”

sensationalism: The headline-in-text uses all caps and dramatic phrasing to provoke alarm.

“AI CHATBOTS TAKE HEAT OVER LEFT-WING BIAS: ‘NO LONGER BE CONSIDERED NEUTRAL’”

loaded labels: 'Left-wing bias' is a politically charged label applied without context or source.

“LEFT-WING BIAS”

loaded language: 'Shepherd a soul' is a religiously and emotionally loaded metaphor not neutral in tone.

“cannot shepherd a soul”

glittering generalities: Phrases like 'model integrity by doing right when no one is watching' appeal to moral ideals without evidence.

“model integrity by doing right when no one is watching”

sympathy appeal: Focus on a child needing encouragement plays on emotional concern for students.

“recognize the moment a child needs encouragement”

narrative framing: Frames AI use as leading to dependency without acknowledging potential for critical thinking development.

“simply dependent”

loaded adjectives: 'Simply dependent' carries a negative moral judgment about students.

“simply dependent”

appeal to authority: Authors invoke their credentials to bolster argument without engaging counterpoints.

“Between us two, we have spent decades in American education”

framing by emphasis: Downplays potential systemic harms by comparing AI to word processors and the internet.

“We did not ban word processors or turn students away from the internet.”

framing by emphasis: Presents authors' own project as central solution without acknowledging other approaches.

“we have spent recent years working with educators and technologists on part of the answer”

moral framing: Invokes national anniversary to lend moral weight to argument.

“As America celebrates its 250th anniversary”

glittering generalities: Repeats 'virtuous' and 'purpose of education' as unchallenged ideals.

“make the human beings operating them more virtuous”

sympathy appeal: Appeals to collective responsibility and children's welfare to pressure action.

“because our children do”

framing by emphasis: Presents a single solution path as urgent and moral, marginalizing alternative views.

“Do that work now, and ethical AI can become the gold standard”