Summary
The world is becoming more digital every single year, bringing with it new challenges. Organisations need to be forward thinking to ensure they stay ahead of the latest trends, in order to succeed long-term.
The world is struggling with the constant increase of technology over the last two or so decades. Moore’s Law, the idea that the number of transistors in computer chips doubles every 2 or so years, provides the basis for an exponential expansion of computing power. Every year, our computers can filter, compile and analyse more and more data. With more computing power, new programs like AI Machine Learning Algorithms have become commonplace. Alongside this, infrastructure is improving, and the Australian Human Rights Commission has declared internet access a human right (Australian Human Rights Commission, n.d.). The internet has become a permanent part of our everyday lives. It is simply impossible to exist in regular society without engaging with the internet, and the information profession is not exempt from this. Information Organisations are in the business of providing information access to people. To perform well as an information organisation, you need to maximise your users, and those users access to your information. Digital 2023 says people now spend over 2 and a half hours on social media everyday. Advertising used to be performed through newspaper adverts, then through having a visible website on search engines. Now, to connect with your actual and potential audiences, you need to have a modern social media presence, especially since more then half of the planet is now active on social media (We are social & Meltwater, 2023).
The Digital 2023 report clearly shows that technological is growing rapidly year on year in how it impacts our lives (We are social & Meltwater, 2023). And the main question that seems to come up again and again is “How do we stop technology from being unethical?”. It’s a question that often evokes a harsh reaction from both sides. AI is often seen as either a great force of good, expanding humanities horizons, or the enemy of the people, here to take our jobs. It seems inevitable that it’s here to stay, so organisations need to be forward thinking in their approach (Zhai et al., 2020). Education organisations are grappling with the ethics of AI created responses, while others are debating the ethics of using AI data to create profiles of their users (Kulkov, 2021; Schiff, 2021).
There’s almost an expectation that everything is available online. Education, health services, online shopping, entertainment. Social media is increasingly becoming a place not only for visibility, but to actually deliver content to users.
Information organisations need to understand that they are in some ways being superseded by technology. Resources are readily available online in many cases, either for free or at discount prices, and AI is able to provide basic reference services. Community events are being organised through social media. Cultural heritage is accessible without visiting a museum, art can be viewed in high definition online. The role of the information organisation needs to evolve with this new digital era. Already, libraries are maintaining relevance by providing internet access to those who may otherwise go without. But more will need to be done to ensure information institutes remain cultural cornerstones into the future.
References
Australian Human Rights Commission. (n.d.). 8 A right to access the internet. https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/8-right-access-internet
Kulkov, I. (2021). The role of artificial intelligence in business transformation: A case of pharmaceutical companies. Technology in Society, 66. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2021.101629
Schiff, D. (2021). Education for AI, not AI for education: The role of education and ethics in national AI policy strategies. International Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Education, 32, 527-563. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40593-021-00270-2
We are social, & Meltwater. (2023). Digital 2023 october global statshot report. Data Reportal. https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2023-october-global-statshot
Zhai, Y., Yan, J., Zhang, H., & Lu, W. (2020). Tracing the evolution of AI: conceptualization of artificial intelligence in mass media discourse. Information Discovery and Delivery, 48(3). https://doi.org/10.1108/IDD-01-2020-0007