‘The advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has sparked debates across various professions, including librarianship. This article explores whether AI can replace librarians by examining the essential skills required for the profession and evaluating the extent to which AI can replicate these skills. AI has the capacity to replace database searching skills but may struggle to displace physical item searching particularly in small, public branches. Critical thinking skills are needed more than ever in the age of AI to avoid inaccurate and biased information and AI is currently not equipped to replace a librarian in this respect. Leadership requires interpersonal skills that AI doesn’t possess. In terms of project management and marketing, even though AI can’t replace a human, it can certainly collaborate with people in these arenas to take over the more mundane tasks and increase efficiencies. While AI offers significant advancements in information retrieval and project management, the human elements of empathy, critical thinking, and personalised service remain irreplaceable. This article concludes that AI can augment but not fully replace the role of librarians.’
Link: https://www.libraryassociation.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/An_Leabharlann_33-2_Autumn2024.pdf
AI Update 