AI policies across the globe: Implications and recommendations for libraries, Leo S Lo, OnlineFirst. Published August 27, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1177/03400352231196172 – This article examines the proposed artificial intelligence policies of the USA, UK, European Union, Canada, and China, and their implications for libraries. As artificial intelligence revolutionizes library operations, it presents complex challenges, such as ethical… Continue Reading
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Category Archives: Libraries
Federal judge temporarily blocks new Texas book-rating law for schools
San Antonio Press News: “A federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked a new Texas law that would establish a book-rating system and ban or restrict books with sexual content from Texas public schools. Austin-based Judge Alan D. Albright told lawyers that the state could not enforce the law Friday, when it was planned to take… Continue Reading
AI Can’t Read Books. It’s Reviewing Them Anyway
Wired (free to read): “ChatGPT-powered avatars recently gushed over a new book—unconvincingly. But if AI develops actual opinions, authors might be in for a shock…a PR release I received last week. The subject line: “AI book reviewers?” The press release touted “the first book to ever be reviewed by AI avatars.” I’ve written book reviews,… Continue Reading
Report: Surge of Intrusive Legislation to Intimidate Teachers, Drive Self-Censorship in Schools
Pen America: “A wave of state legislation sweeping the nation is creating the conditions to intimidate educators into self-censorship in schools, according to a new PEN America report released today. “Educational Intimidation: How ‘Parental Rights’ Legislation Undermines the Freedom to Learn” examines the rise of what PEN America has dubbed “educational intimidation bills,” a category… Continue Reading
Dan Rather and Elliott Kirschner: The War to Destroy Public Education
“Dan Rather and Elliot Kirschner wrote in their blog Steady about the importance of saving public education from the forces trying to destroy and privatize it. They remind us and the general public that public schools unite us; privatization is inherently divisive. It is ironic that the red states are implementing voucher plans as the… Continue Reading
Thomson Reuters Future of Professionals Report
“Thomson Reuters a global content and technology company, today released its Future of Professionals Report. The survey of more than 1,200 individuals working internationally shares the predicted impact that generative AI will have on the future of professional work. The survey showed 67% of respondents believe AI will have a transformational or high impact on… Continue Reading
The Authors Whose Pirated Books Are Powering Generative AI
The Atlantic [free link]: “One of the most troubling issues around generative AI is simple: It’s being made in secret. To produce humanlike answers to questions, systems such as ChatGPT process huge quantities of written material. But few people outside of companies such as Meta and OpenAI know the full extent of the texts these… Continue Reading
Firms’ Back Offices Brace for Generative AI Impact
Law.com: “…While firms’ focus for now remains on how generative AI will change the delivery of legal services, its impact could be far broader. After all, law firms’ back-office functions won’t be immune from the technology’s disruptive potential. To be sure, exactly how generative AI developments will bolster—or threaten—non-legal jobs is still an open question.… Continue Reading
New Accidental Government Information Librarian Webinar
The next Help! I’m an Accidental Government Information Librarian webinar is scheduled for August 29, 2023 from 2:00-3:00pm (Eastern). This session, Tips for Navigating Spatial Data Resources, is hosted by Kevin Dyke – the Maps and Spatial Data Curator at Edmon Low Library. Register here: https://ala-events.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_TB6XPsRGQR6pm3jDPjULvQ#/registration Continue Reading
Internet Archive Responds to Recording Industry Lawsuit Targeting Obsolete Media
Internet Archives Blogs: “Late Friday, some of the world’s largest record labels, including Sony and Universal Music Group, filed a lawsuit against the Internet Archive and others for the Great 78 Project, a community effort for the preservation, research and discovery of 78 rpm records that are 70 to 120 years old. As a non-profit… Continue Reading
An Iowa school district is using AI to ban books
“It certainly didn’t take long for AI’s other shoe to drop, what with the emergent technology already being perverted to commit confidence scams and generate spam content. We can now add censorship to that list as the Globe Gazette reports the school board of Mason City, Iowa has begun leveraging AI technology to cultivate lists… Continue Reading
Record Labels Hit Internet Archive With New $400m+ Copyright Lawsuit
Torrent Freak – “Record labels including UMG, Capitol and Sony have filed a copyright infringement lawsuit in the United States targeting Internet Archive and founder Brewster Kale, among others. Filed in Manhattan federal court late Friday, the complaint alleges infringement of 2,749 works, recorded by deceased artists, including Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong and… Continue Reading
