Why reading needs our attention again in a world shaped by AI
By Jan Mohd Mala
A few days ago, I had a glimpse of a reading hall in a library. The room was calm, and the chairs were mostly filled. Many students were present, but most of them were looking at their phones. Their attention moved from one screen to another without pause. Only one student sat quietly with a book open in front of him. He kept reading with steady focus while the world around him continued to rush. That small moment stayed with me and made me think about how much the habit of reading has changed in our time.
Artificial Intelligence has made information easier than ever to access. We can ask a question and receive an answer within seconds. We can read summaries instead of full books. We can depend on readymade explanations instead of thinking on our own. This feels useful, and in many ways it is. But it also takes away something important. Reading has always been a slow and personal activity. It asks for patience. It teaches reflection. It builds attention. A machine can present information, but it cannot create the inner experience that reading gives. Only a reader can do that work.
Many people now read only enough to understand the surface of a topic. They move from one idea to the next without spending time on any single thought. This habit limits our understanding. Reading in depth allows the mind to form connections and to see the larger picture. When we avoid deep reading, we lose the ability to follow complex ideas. We also lose the skill of forming our own opinions. Artificial Intelligence may guide us, but it cannot replace the mental work that builds real understanding.
The decline in reading is visible everywhere. Many people say they find it hard to focus on long texts. Many move quickly from one post to another without giving thought to what they read. Screens have trained the mind to look for fast results. A book does not work that way. It takes time and invites us to slow down. Because of this, reading has become difficult for many young people. Even libraries show this shift. More visitors come for internet access than for books. Shelves remain full, but pages remain untouched. A library becomes silent in a different way when reading loses its place.
This decline matters because reading is more than a habit. It shapes how we understand the world. Readers build stronger judgment because reading trains the mind to question and reflect. It helps people express ideas clearly. It strengthens memory and understanding. Artificial Intelligence can assist us, but it cannot replace this kind of mental development. Only reading can build it.
There is also a social side to reading that we often overlook. Reading helps people talk to each other with more understanding. It builds a shared sense of knowledge in a community. When reading becomes weak, public dialogue becomes weak. People rely on headlines or short messages. This leads to confusion and misunderstanding. Reading allows societies to remain thoughtful and informed. Without it, discussion becomes shallow, and divisions grow faster.
Families and schools can play an important role in rebuilding the reading culture. Children who see books at home grow curious. Parents who read send a strong message. Teachers who give time for reading help students explore ideas beyond the syllabus. Libraries can also become active spaces by hosting reading circles and discussions. When reading becomes part of everyday life, it strengthens the intellectual health of a community.
Artificial Intelligence will continue to grow and become more present in our lives. It will help us work faster and make tasks easier. But it cannot replace the depth of human thought. Reading offers something that technology cannot copy. It gives the mind time to think. It allows ideas to settle slowly. It protects us from rushing through every decision. It gives a sense of calm and clarity in a world that moves too quickly.
When I think of the student reading in the hall, I see a small but meaningful sign of hope. Even in a world full of screens, there are still people who choose books. That choice has value. It reminds us that reading is not lost. It is waiting for us to return to it. Even a few pages each day can improve focus and bring peace to the mind. Reading does not demand perfection. It only asks for attention.
In an age shaped by artificial intelligence, reading remains one of the most human activities we can choose. It strengthens our thoughts. It nurtures imagination. It keeps us connected to meaning and understanding. And it reminds us that learning is a slow and personal journey. Reading may seem simple, but its effect is strong. It keeps the mind alive in a time when many things try to pull it away.
The writer is a Librarian at the Department of Libraries & Research, J&K
jm*****@***il.com