AI for the Information Professional: A Critical Guide - Paperback

by Andrew Cox (Author)

Is artificial intelligence (AI) a question answering machine, a helpful companion, a persuasive storyteller, a deceitful often hidden system, or a global industry? Or some combination thereof?

In this authoritative and thought-provoking guide, Andrew Cox invites library and information professionals to reflect on the exciting and troubling concept of AI and the impact it is having on their work and the library and information sector more broadly. Blending practical tips and activities with critical insight, the book equips readers to make informed choices about when - and how - to use AI, answering a range of key questions such as:

• What is AI and what is the history of the idea?
• How is AI changing information behavior?
• What are the ethical issues around AI?
• How can we make sense of AI's impact on the environment?
• How can we boost the AI capability of our own library?
• What should every librarian know about AI?
• What are the elements of AI literacy or competency?
• How is AI changing research and what are the implications for libraries?
• How will libraries employ their own chatbots?
• What is the future of AI?

Written by one of the field's leading experts on AI, this book is an essential, hands-on companion for librarians and information professionals seeking to navigate uncertainty, champion responsible innovation, and shape the future of their field.

Author Biography

Andrew Cox is Senior Lecturer in the School of Information, Journalism and Communication at the University of Sheffield. He has been working in the LIS field for two decades and been writing about AI and libraries for nearly half that time. He is convenor of the IFLA Special Interest Group on AI and is a past chair of the ASIS&T SIG on AI. He has previously published AI for Knowledge (co-authored with Mike Thelwall).