MIT Libraries announced a new phase for its MIT Reads program as it celebrates its 10th anniversary, emphasizing fiction and memoir to explore social connection and humanity amid the rise of artificial intelligence. For fall 2026, the program will feature “Exhalation,” a collection of science fiction stories by Ted Chiang that probes the interplay between humans and technology, particularly AI.
What Happened
Since its launch in 2016, MIT Reads has aimed to foster empathy and belonging within the MIT community through collective reading and discussion. This year, MIT is reshaping the program to address the growing influence of AI on education and society. As part of this evolution, the Institute’s President, Sally Kornbluth, selected Ted Chiang’s Exhalation for the upcoming fall 2026 reading. The book includes thought-provoking speculative fiction that wrestles with identity, free will, and the social impact of advancing technologies like AI.
The updated initiative aligns with recommendations from MIT’s Ad Hoc Committee on AI Use in Teaching, Learning, and Research Training, which cited MIT Reads as a vehicle to strengthen personal well-being and communal norms through campus-wide engagement. Alongside the reading, MIT Reads will continue offering related programming such as author talks and panel discussions, open to MIT’s community and the broader public via online streams.
Key Facts
MIT Reads is an MIT Libraries program designed to cultivate social connection by encouraging shared reading experiences; it has been active since 2016. The fall 2026 book selection, Exhalation by Ted Chiang, was originally published in 2019 and recognized by The New York Times as one of the best books that year. The program’s author events are publicly accessible and have accumulated over 5,000 video views online. The initiative supports MIT’s focus on integrating humanities with technical education, as evidenced by its connection to the first-year advising seminar 21.A01 (Reading Great Books with Compass) and the Human Insight Collaborative.
What This Means
MIT’s decision to focus MIT Reads on fiction addressing artificial intelligence signals a broader institutional recognition of technology’s ethical and societal challenges. Using storytelling to explore AI allows students, faculty, and the public to engage emotionally and critically with issues that are often discussed in abstract technical terms. This approach facilitates reflection on how emerging AI systems might reshape human identity, autonomy, and community bonds. It also promotes inclusive dialogue, bridging humanities and STEM disciplines, which is vital as AI integrates deeper into daily life and education.
For MIT’s community and beyond, this shift elevates MIT Reads from a literary program to a platform for thoughtful discourse on one of the 21st century’s defining technologies. Readers gain exposure to diverse perspectives on AI’s promises and dilemmas, enhancing empathy and nuanced understanding. Furthermore, by connecting fiction with educational initiatives like the Compass program, MIT underscores the value of integrating humanistic inquiry with scientific advancement.
Background
MIT Reads was created to nurture empathy and connection through shared literary experiences. Over the past decade, it has featured a variety of books accompanied by talks, panels, and small-group discussions facilitated by library staff. The initiative’s public engagement extends through author events streamed online, broadening its reach beyond MIT’s campus. The program emerges amid growing institutional interest at MIT in responsibly integrating AI into education and research, including the formation of the Ad Hoc Committee on AI Use in Teaching, Learning, and Research Training.
What Comes Next
“Exhalation” will be the focus of MIT Reads programming during fall 2026, with associated events planned to foster discussion on the book’s themes. The 21.A01 first-year seminar, Reading Great Books with Compass, will include the book in its fall curriculum, further embedding the text within MIT’s academic environment. Additional details about events and public outreach are expected as fall 2026 approaches.
Sources
This article is based on reporting and publicly available information from the following sources:
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