Maine librarians are helping patrons resist AI and Big Tech
6 hours ago
- #AI skepticism
- #library services
- #digital literacy
- Searsmont Town Library offers new service helping patrons remove AI from their devices.
- Library Director Steven Brown assists in disabling AI assistants and switching to non-AI alternatives.
- Bangor librarian Hannah Cyrus leads classes on Avoiding AI, emphasizing critical technology use.
- AI is criticized for unreliable information sourcing, environmental impact, and data privacy risks.
- Librarians view promoting information literacy and questioning technology as core professional values.
- Patrons express frustration with AI features and seek ways to disable them.
- Libraries plan to move away from Google tools towards more secure and private alternatives.