April 18, 2026
Clack-clack vs. chatbot smackdown
College instructor turns to typewriters to curb AI-written work
Cornell prof breaks out typewriters; commenters split between “genius move” and “grandpa cosplay”
TLDR: A Cornell instructor is fighting AI-written homework with manual typewriters and in-person, distraction-free writing. Commenters are split: some hail the analog reset and oral exams as a cure for cheating, while others say schools should test skills AI can’t mimic instead of time-traveling to 1955.
A Cornell German instructor just rolled the clock back to the ‘50s—manual typewriters, no screens, and her kids as “tech support”—to stop students from leaning on AI and online translators. The scene had the internet clacking with opinions as loud as a carriage return. Some cheered the throwback, saying it’s about authentic work and focus. Others called it nostalgic theater in a world where AI is here to stay.
The pro-analog crowd is loud and proud. One instructor says they’re printing everything and going old-school on quizzes, praising the quiet of paper and the accountability of in-person testing. Another voice argued AI cheating has made remote tests a joke—and that this could be a “revitalizing boost” for real classrooms with real teachers. One commenter even praised oral exams—think live debates with the prof—because it’s hard to cheat when you have to think out loud. Meanwhile, the typewriter believers swoon over the single-task vibe and slower, more intentional writing. For context, Cornell University is hardly the only place seeing a return to pen, paper, and even typewriters.
But the pushback is spicy. Critics say if AI can write the assignment, the assignment is the problem—test what AI can’t do instead. Cue the memes: “Next up: slide rules.” Others worry it’s just analog cosplay that won’t scale. Either way, the pinkies are sore, the bells are dinging, and the debate is very, very online.
Key Points
- •Since spring 2023, a Cornell German instructor has students complete in-class assignments on manual typewriters once per semester.
- •The analog approach aims to deter use of generative AI and online translation tools by removing screens, spellcheckers, and delete keys.
- •Typewriter sessions include instruction on paper loading, key striking, and carriage return; some machines have German keyboards.
- •Students reported fewer distractions, more peer interaction, and more deliberate writing without easy digital corrections.
- •The initiative aligns with a broader trend toward low-tech, in-person assessments like pen-and-paper and oral exams to reduce AI-assisted work.