Reflection Blog 3: AI and New Horizons

Libraries’ place as central features of local communities or academic grounds requires them to be constantly growing according to new trends and technologies. Recently, one of the most prominent technologies impacting library services is artificial intelligence. AI has become ingrained in our society, from grammar-checking programs to more advanced software like ChatGPT that can answer complex questions. Because of this, information professionals must become proficient in AI to better support patrons. In this reflection post, I will discuss AI’s place in modern libraries.

While AI has its faults, including biases and “hallucinations,” it is making major moves to improve people’s professional experiences. According to a Pew Research study completed in 2021, experts believed that by 2025, AI would “make virtual spaces feel much more real, in-person, authentic and effective” (Anderson et al.). While this can be helpful to complete work or interact virtually, experts believe that a heavy reliance on AI could cause problems because it lacks governance and complete reliability (Anderson et al., 2021). This relates to libraries because the improvement of AI programs and people’s willingness to believe it pose new challenges surrounding information-seeking processes. This, however, is less something to fear than something to learn and accept. As AI expands, libraries should implement it into their services to expand their reach to new patrons and processes, but also be information literacy teachers to respond to the many issues surrounding artificial intelligence.

Allison Papini discusses this further in her article and proves the need to become AI experts to keep libraries up to date and to respond to the issues surrounding AI results. Papini stresses the fact that information searching and information creation are complex processes that programs like ChatGPT do not fully understand. Therefore, AI should be used in libraries sparingly and as jumping-off points to research. Then, more traditional processes like catalog and database searching can be used to broaden, clarify, and improve the user’s understanding of the research. I agree with Papini because while the traditional approach will yield the most accurate information, embracing AI, even minimally, is necessary to ensure your library becomes and remains “hyperlinked.”

References

Anderson, J., Rainie, L., & Vogels, E. (2021). Experts Say the “New Normal” in 2025 Will be Far more Tech-Driven, Presenting More Big Challenges. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2021/02/18/experts-say-the-new-normal-in-2025-will-be-far-more-tech-driven-presenting-more-big-challenges/

Pappini, A. (2023). ChatGPT: A Library Perspective. https://library.bryant.edu/chatgpt-library-perspective