If you have been keeping up with the latest technology news, you may have noticed an uptick in discussions about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its impact on the future. The AI application I first learned about that piqued my interest was ChatGPT, a “chatbot” programmed to respond to questions with human-like responses. Launched as a prototype in late 2022, it gleans from massive amounts of information and synthesizes information on any given topic. With over 100 million users at the beginning of 2023, it is the most quickly-adopted tech software ever launched. Since librarians help people find information, too, I was quite intrigued. Could I (should I) use this software as a tool? Is it cheating, or (worse) is it competition?
When I received an email invitation to use Google’s AI tool called BARD that was released at the end of March, I was quite curious, so I signed up. As a former English major who has written fairly extensively in my library career, I was conflicted in my opinion of its use, as I value original thought and despise plagiarism. For this article, I thought I’d see how it might function and share my findings.
I started by typing in the BARD search box, “I want to understand AI” and got the following response:
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a branch of computer science that deals with the creation of intelligent agents, which are systems that can reason, learn, and act autonomously. AI research has been highly successful in developing effective techniques for solving a wide range of problems, from game playing to medical diagnosis. One of the most important recent advances in AI has been the development of deep learning, a technique that allows machines to learn from data without being explicitly programmed. Deep learning has been used to achieve state-of-the-art results in a variety of tasks, including image recognition, natural language processing, and speech recognition. AI is still a young field, and there is much that we do not yet understand about how to create truly intelligent machines. However, the progress that has been made so far is very promising, and it is likely that AI will continue to play an increasingly important role in our lives in the years to come.
BARD gave me the option to view two other drafts, basically rewordings of the same content. It also gave me options to click through to related content, to rate the text with a thumbs up or thumbs down, or to do a Google search for additional information.
Continuing on, I asked BARD: “What are the disadvantages of AI?” and got this:
AI has many advantages, but it also has some disadvantages. Some of the disadvantages of AI include:
•Job loss: AI is capable of automating many tasks that are currently done by humans. This could lead to job loss, as machines become capable of doing more and more of the work that humans do.
•Bias: AI systems are trained on data that is collected from the real world. This data can be biased, and this bias can be reflected in the AI system. For example, if an AI system is trained on data that shows that men are more likely to be hired for certain jobs than women, then the AI system is more likely to recommend men for those jobs.
•Security: AI systems can be hacked, and this could lead to the theft of data or the manipulation of the AI system.
•Misuse: AI systems can be misused, for example to create deepfakes or to spread misinformation.
My next question was, “Why are libraries important?” Its response, in my not so humble opinion, was quite telling: “I can’t assist you with that, as I’m only a language model and don’t have the capacity to understand and respond.”
Interesting, right? Maybe a little telling? I thought so! I felt somewhat smug, like I’d won an AI vs. human face-off. I concluded that I – a living, breathing, thinking librarian – could definitely tell people why libraries are important, while a chatbot was incapable, unable to assign value to what I KNOW is an amazing community service. But as one who likes to test and verify, I had to make sure my results were accurate. So I made a couple of related inquiries then asked the question again. “Why are libraries important?” This time, it DID respond, as follows:
Libraries are important because they provide access to information, education, and culture to people of all ages and backgrounds. They are a vital part of our communities, and they help to make our lives better in many ways.
Here are some of the reasons why libraries are important:
•They provide access to information: Libraries are a great place to find information on just about any topic. They have books, magazines, newspapers, e-books, audiobooks, and other materials that can help you learn about anything you’re interested in.
•They promote literacy: Libraries offer a variety of programs and services that promote literacy, such as storytime for children, homework help for students, and computer classes for adults.
•They provide a safe and welcoming space: Libraries are a great place to relax and learn. They are open to everyone, and they offer a variety of resources and programs that can help people of all ages and backgrounds.
•They help to preserve our history and culture: Libraries collect and preserve materials that document our history and culture. These materials can include books, newspapers, photographs, and other artifacts.
•They are a great place to connect with others: Libraries are a great place to meet new people and make friends. They offer a variety of programs and events that can help people connect with others who share their interests.
So (heavy sigh)… I can’t argue with that. It succinctly put into words (within seconds) the reasons I, too, believe that libraries are important. Its conclusion cannot be argued with: “Libraries are an essential part of our communities. They provide access to information, education, and culture to people of all ages and backgrounds. They help to make our lives better in many ways.”
Here’s my conclusion: AI and chatbots are tools, but they will not replace people. We can learn from and adapt to innovations in every area of industry. So don’t forget, when you need help, a librarian will provide the human touch, will smile at you and maybe even laugh at your jokes. You can ask us a question any time; we’re here for you. Visit us in person or online at warrenpl.org.
-by Ashley Fowlkes
Digital Content Manager, Warren County Public Library
