‘Can’t Help Myself’: on generative AI, the performance of qualitative research and slow scholarship

This article navigates the confluence of advanced generative AI tools, the intensifying demands of academic research, and the concept of slow scholarship. It employs the artwork ‘Can’t Help Myself’ by Sun Yuan and Peng Yu as a metaphor to discuss the challenges and opportunities faced by researchers in this rapidly changing landscape. The discussion explores the surveillance nature of AI tools, the evolving demands of academia, and the implications for conducting qualitative research. The article proposes a synthesis where AI tools can be harnessed to enable depth and deliberation in research, echoing the principles of slow scholarship. This perspective helps alleviate the fear of being overwhelmed by AI and shifts the focus to constructive engagement with these powerful tools.