Future Scenarios of Digital Humanities and Post-Humanist Education

Abstract

This study aims to explore future scenarios in digital humanities and post-humanist education. A qualitative research design was employed to investigate expert perspectives on the evolving relationship between technology and humanities education. Data collection involved semi-structured interviews with 25 participants from online communities specializing in digital humanities, artificial intelligence, and post-humanist education. The study also incorporated a review of scientific articles to provide theoretical depth. Thematic analysis was conducted using NVivo software, ensuring a structured identification of key themes related to AI-driven humanities research, post-humanist learning environments, extended reality in education, ethical AI governance, and hyper-personalized learning. The study identified five major scenarios shaping the future of digital humanities and post-humanist education. AI-driven research is transforming humanities scholarship by augmenting textual analysis, historical reconstruction, and creative writing, though concerns about algorithmic bias and intellectual deskilling remain. Post-humanist learning environments, incorporating neurotechnologies and hybrid human-machine collaboration, challenge traditional pedagogical hierarchies. Extended reality in education offers immersive engagement but raises accessibility and digital divide concerns. Ethical AI governance and decolonial approaches to digital humanities are critical in ensuring inclusivity, transparency, and cultural representation. The rise of hyper-personalized education, driven by AI tutors and behavioral analytics, presents opportunities for adaptive learning but also risks reinforcing educational biases and reducing exposure to diverse perspectives. Post-humanist education represents both an extension and a challenge to humanistic traditions, requiring careful ethical governance, interdisciplinary collaboration, and equitable access to technological advancements. While AI and immersive technologies offer transformative potential, educators must prioritize critical AI literacy, ethical design, and human-centered approaches to maintain intellectual and ethical integrity in digital humanities education.