Key facts
- Librarians are offering 'Avoiding AI' workshops to help people disable AI features on their devices.
- The workshops are a response to widespread public frustration with the perceived forced adoption of AI tools.
- These sessions aim to enhance digital literacy and give individuals more control over their technology.
- The initiative was inspired by librarian Hannah Cyrus and has seen significant demand, often exceeding capacity.
- Attendees are taught practical steps to turn off AI functionalities on popular platforms and devices.
Librarians across the globe are responding to a growing public sentiment against the pervasive integration of artificial intelligence by hosting 'Avoiding AI' workshops. These sessions, designed to empower individuals with greater control over their technology, teach attendees how to disable AI features on popular devices and platforms.
Charlie Bailey, a librarian in South Philadelphia, is one of many educators offering these workshops. He explains that the inspiration came from a feeling of frustration among people who believe AI tools are being "forced onto them" and are suddenly ubiquitous in their lives. Bailey's hour-long sessions begin with an explanation of how AI chatbots and consumer AI tools function, discussing reasons for both adoption and abstention, before moving into practical, step-by-step instructions for disabling specific features.
Bailey views these workshops as an advancement of digital literacy, helping people reclaim autonomy over their technology use, especially when designs seem to compel adoption. The concept was pioneered by Hannah Cyrus, a librarian in Maine, who was inundated with requests for her workshop materials after publishing an article on the subject. Cyrus noted that patrons were increasingly asking how to turn off AI features that were attempting to automate tasks like email summarization.
Both Cyrus and Bailey have experienced unprecedented demand for their workshops. Cyrus had to close registration for her sessions at 30 attendees and open a waitlist, with around 70 people attending each of her first two workshops, including a livestream. Similarly, Bailey's workshop in Philadelphia garnered significant attention, with a social media post receiving over 2,000 likes and 220 shares, far exceeding the library's usual engagement.
Attendees express a shared skepticism towards AI, with some sharing practical tips, such as appending a specific string to Google searches to hide AI results. Concerns about the environmental impact of AI and data centers, as well as the potential for AI to be "shoved down their throat" at work, were also voiced. While not rejecting AI outright, particularly for potential medical breakthroughs, participants emphasize a desire for more control and agency in their technology use.