Professor Defends Controversial AI-Generated Textbook

Zrinka Stahuljak claims her error-filled digital textbook was a success, despite widespread criticism from educators.

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A UCLA professor has defended her decision to use an AI-generated textbook for a comparative literature course, despite the book being widely mocked for its garbled text and generic visuals. Zrinka Stahuljak claims the AI-assisted textbook, which cost students $25 compared to $250 for a traditional textbook, was a success that increased student engagement. However, many educators have criticized the use of AI in education, arguing it can diminish critical thinking and threaten the role of learning institutions.

Why it matters

This case highlights the growing debate around the use of AI in education, with some professors seeing it as a cost-effective and accessible tool, while others argue it undermines the core purpose of teaching and learning. As AI technology continues to advance, there are concerns about its impact on the future of higher education.

The details

Stahuljak created the AI-generated textbook using a platform called Kudu, which allows professors to input their own notes and materials. The textbook featured a cover with incomprehensible text and generic visuals, which Stahuljak claimed were an "intentional artistic choice" to prompt students to question assumptions about language and meaning. Despite widespread mockery from other educators, Stahuljak said she was "shocked" by the skepticism and viewed the AI textbook as preferable to students using ChatGPT, which she said could provide information unrelated to the course material.

  • The AI-generated textbook was announced by UCLA at the end of 2024.
  • The textbook was immediately met with widespread criticism from educators in early 2025.

The players

Zrinka Stahuljak

A professor at UCLA who created an AI-generated textbook for a comparative literature course.

Elizabeth Landers

A grad student who helped put together the AI-generated textbook.

Kudu

A platform for creating digital textbooks started by another UCLA professor, which Stahuljak used to create the AI-generated textbook.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I was really shocked that they couldn't see that this textbook was my creation; it was carefully edited, just as if it had been printed.”

— Zrinka Stahuljak, Professor (Inside Higher Ed)

“I don't see how a traditional textbook that costs $250 and is out of date within two years or three years, would be in some way better than a custom $25 AI-facilitated textbook that is based on my material.”

— Zrinka Stahuljak, Professor (Inside Higher Ed)

“This is truly bad and makes me wonder if we aren't participating in creating our own replacements at the expense of, well, everyone who cares about teaching and learning.”

— Anonymous English professor (Inside Higher Ed)

“If you do this you should have your doctorate revoked and be thrown into the stocks at the center of the main university quad. This is abandonment of professional responsibility to a degree that would be comical if it weren't so self-serious.”

— Anonymous professor (Inside Higher Ed)

What’s next

The broader debate around the use of AI in education is expected to continue, with educators and institutions weighing the potential benefits and risks of incorporating this technology into the classroom.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing tension between those who see AI as a cost-effective and accessible tool for education, and those who argue it undermines the core purpose of teaching and learning. As AI technology continues to advance, the impact on higher education institutions will likely be a major point of discussion in the years to come.