by Chief Financial Officer Chia-Hua (Phyllis) Chen
There’s no denying it — AI tools like ChatGPT have completely changed the way we learn. They’re fast, convenient, and surprisingly good at helping us explain concepts or clear up confusion within seconds.
But the more I work with AI, the more I’m reminded of something important: AI can support learning, but it can’t replace the depth and durability that come from books and structured courses.
Here’s why.
1. Books build deep, layered understanding — not just quick answers
AI is amazing at giving instant explanations, but books offer something AI can’t replicate: a carefully crafted journey.
Authors spend years refining the structure of their ideas, deciding what comes first, what builds next, and why the order matters.
That progression changes the quality of your understanding.
It’s the difference between knowing a concept and truly grasping it.
2. Courses provide structure and accountability
AI tools are great at responding to your curiosity — but only when you know what to ask.
Courses, on the other hand, guide you through a learning path you wouldn’t design on your own.
They give you:
- a clear starting point
- a sequence that builds competence step by step
- deadlines, checkpoints, and practice that keep you moving
AI may make learning faster, but courses make learning stick.
3. Real learning requires friction — and books & courses create that
AI often makes everything feel easy. Too easy.
But growth usually happens when you struggle a little — rereading a paragraph, working through an exercise, or engaging with material that challenges your assumptions.
That productive friction is part of what makes knowledge durable.
Books and courses intentionally create those moments; AI tends to smooth them out.
AI is transforming the learning landscape, no doubt.
But if your goal is not just to find an answer, but to build expertise, then books and structured learning remain irreplaceable.
AI accelerates you.
Books and courses shape you.
And we still need both.
And ultimately, this is what BrainStream aims to bring to educators and students.