Currently, libraries are taking great leaps of faith into the unknown when it comes to new and emerging technologies to enhance their services, programs, and procedures. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one such new technology that is taking the world by storm with its limitless uses and its unrealised effects on society. Most people have come across trending AI ChatGPT which is a public site that allows users to freely ask questions, have conversations, and seek assistance with emails, tasks, and codes that AI can handle efficiently with natural human-like responses (Ortiz, 2023).
The Potential of AI in Libraries
When we picture using AI in library settings, many of us jump ahead and think of the inevitable robot overlords that will dictate our every move, but for the prospective uses for the next couple of years, it will primarily be used for patron assistance with chatbots, generating marketing materials and ideas, and even as a brainstorming or troubleshooting tool (Tanzi, 2023). There are already some systems that utilise AI very lightly such as collection development processes with standing orders that can anticipate what books may be needed in a collection, making this process almost completely automated and efficient (Cox & Mazumdar, 2022).
Impact on Information Professionals
The impact of having an AI system introduced to a library service can mean a great deal of change and subsequent stress to staff as well as the chance to simplify workloads and further procedures used. If or when AI is introduced, there will be fundamental changes to how staff would interact digitally with their audience, as well as how tasks are completed within the workplace (Cox, 2023, p. 369). One of the largest setbacks this technology may have will be the perceptions and biases library staff have already formed that can oppose the use and education required for it. With these complications, AI has somewhat of an uphill battle to gain support and enthusiasm for its use internally and outwardly with its patrons (Hervieux & Wheatley, 2021, pp. 7-8)
Finally, this new technology is still very unfamiliar within library organisations, but the potential uses are those that can mean a great change to operations and services in terms of modernisation and digitisation. By educating ourselves and staff on its power and capacity to assist with tasks and further customer service opportunities, we can make well-informed decisions that can minimise the possible negative fallout.
References:
Cox, A. (2023). How artificial intelligence might change academic library work: Applying the competencies literature and the theory of the professions. Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology, 74(3), 367-380. https://doi.org/10.1002/asi.24635
Cox, A. M., & Mazumdar, S. (2022). Defining artificial intelligence for librarians. Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/09610006221142029
Hervieux, S., & Wheatley, A. (2021). Perceptions of artificial intelligence: A survey of academic librarians in Canada and the United States. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 47(1), 102270. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2020.102270
Ortiz, S. (2023, May 30). What is ChatGPT and why does it matter? Here’s what you need to know. ZDNET. https://www.zdnet.com/article/what-is-chatgpt-and-why-does-it-matter-heres-everything-you-need-to-know/
Tanzi, N. (2023, January 23). How can AI be used in libraries? The Digital Librarian. https://the-digital-librarian.com/2023/01/23/artificial-intelligence-in-the-library/