AI Influencers: As The Impact Of Generative Artificial Intelligence Continues To Grow, Are There Ways That Libraries Can Help Shape Its Future?

Abstract

To prepare, he says librarians will need to learn the technology and be able to help teach others; connect with local businesses and workforce development organizations to "identify the competencies our communities most need to develop," and coordinate to share resources across public, academic, school, and other libraries to amplify the field's collective impact. [...]Macrina adds that "I think that it is possible for libraries to have an influence on the future of AI, but I think it really depends on our ability and willingness to take a critical posture toward it, and position [libraries] as a place where our communities can get information about how it influences their lives, what its risks and harms are, and ways that we can get organized to reclaim some of our agency and power against the worst parts of it." Civic Duty In addition to the field's collective power, libraries can have a great deal of influence locally, says R. David Lankes, the Virginia and Charles Bowden Professor of Librarianship at the University of Texas at Austin and cohost of LJ's Libraries Lead podcast. Sharing space with the Library Data Services Desk, the AI Studio will offer collaborative workshops, speaker events, hands-on instruction, and a central location for community dialogue regarding AI. Since most AI solutions are now cloud-based, the new studio didn't require any specialized computer equipment, notes Tim Shearer, associate university librarian for digital strategies and information technology for UNC, but it will feature personalized support from library staff to help students and faculty use AI tools and build AI solutions.