Libraries Commission
The activity, held online on Tuesday, July 11, brought together more than 100 participants from across the country and abroad, who had the opportunity to learn more about the scope, risks and challenges of this technology that is becoming increasingly important in the field of library management and administration.
«"The Impact of AI on Higher Education and University Libraries: From Gutenberg to ChatGPT" was the name of the discussion organized by the Advisory Committee on Libraries and Documentation of the CRUCH (CABID), through the Communications Subcommittee, which was aimed at library professionals, students and those interested in this topic of relevance to education and information management.
According to the organizing team, “the emergence of AI is comparable to the invention of the printing press, as it presents disruptive characteristics that impact society, transforming and accelerating the way we access information, but also has implications for learning, generating new opportunities, but also new ethical challenges at all levels.”.
In accordance with the above idea, two prominent specialists offered the talks "The impact of AI on higher education and university libraries: from Gutenberg to ChatGPT," by Dr. Humberto Farías Aroca, researcher and academic at the University of La Serena; and "Artificial intelligence at the service of research: opportunities and challenges in university libraries," by librarian Morella Belén Rodríguez, with a diploma in Scientific Research and Knowledge Generation, from the Catholic University of the Most Holy Conception.
Both presentations were preceded by greetings from the Rector of the Catholic University of Temuco, Dr. Aliro Bórquez Ramírez, who is also the Acting Rector of CABID. He congratulated the librarians on their day and praised the relevance of the discussion, which, he stated, “has taken on a challenging role regarding how AI will affect the development and work of universities.”.
A challenge for university libraries
Referring to the challenge this issue entails, the president of CABID and director of Libraries at UdeC, Karen Jara Masricic, noted that, "as a Commission we are very pleased with the large turnout for this activity, which undoubtedly shows us that we still have important work to do as university libraries in the use of information generated by artificial intelligence.".
The CABID representative added that, “as an entity we must fulfill a role of supporting our communities in its correct use, for example, through the development of thematic guides that show how to cite this source, how to ask questions, how to review the information it provides, among other needs that are a reality today.”.
For his part, the speaker, Dr. Humberto Farías, demonstrated in his presentation that this technology has had a significant impact on academic work, and therefore its treatment is a necessity that must be addressed. "Undoubtedly, we are living in times of profound change due to artificial intelligence, which is why events like this take on greater importance by reducing the uncertainty surrounding it," the specialist stated.
He also pointed out that, “universities are called upon to reflect deeply on AI, specifically on how it is being used as yet another tool by our students.” In this regard, he warned that “the impact of tools like ChatGPT on student learning will depend largely on how we, as institutions, incorporate or mediate it within our educational processes.” Furthermore, he urged the demystification of AI and its recognition for what it truly is: a tool at the service of our society.
Text: Directorate of Libraries and Information Resources – UFRO
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