Wolfgram Library faculty presented a four-part virtual workshop series about generative AI tools and the research process called Thriving in a Digital World during National Library Week – April 7-10, 2025. As information science professionals, librarians have been addressing the promises and challenges of new technology and its impact on information and the research process for many years. Employing an objective and evidence-based approach, library faculty explored four topics related to gen AI and the research process: copyright, social justice, information literacy skills, and new AI tools within the library’s research databases.
This session focused on issues pertaining to artificial intelligence and copyright including ownership, output, and prompting. The discussion focused on the broader ethics of copyright and how those ethics can be applied to generative AI.
With a focus on critical thinking, information literacy promotes an objective and intentional approach to the use of generative AI tools in the research process and beyond. Academic librarians base our information literacy instruction on the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education adopted in 2016. These guidelines define the lifelong information literacy skills necessary to flourish in an ever-changing technological environment. In this interactive workshop, learn about the information literacy skills set out in the Framework as they encourage critical thinking about gen AI tools and guide knowledge practices related to information creation, authority, scholarship, information value, and the research process.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) serves as both a tool for progress and a potential source of harm. AI has the potential to enhance access to essential resources as well as increase efficiency and improve accessibility for people with disabilities. AI also poses significant risks, such as reinforcing biases, enabling mass surveillance, and spreading misinformation through deep fakes. Additional concerns include the exploitation of workers in AI development, the environmental impact of AI infrastructure, and the issue of AI "hallucinations," where systems generate misleading or false information. As AI continues to evolve, balancing its benefits with ethical considerations is crucial to ensuring it advances social justice rather than exacerbating inequalities.
Join us for an informative presentation on the innovative AI tools available within library databases. This session will cover: