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Posted by NNLM Region 7 on August 1st, 2025
Posted in: Blog
Tags: AI, Data
We are in a period where emerging technologies are becoming more convenient to the public and integrated into our everyday lives. Keeping up with current technology is essential for libraries and healthcare services alike, so we can continue to provide innovative services and educate our audiences on how to use emerging tools properly.
The broad landscape of artificial intelligence can be overwhelming. One place to start is learning the definitions of some of the most common terminology and differentiating artificial intelligence from its subsets.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a kind of technology that allows computers to simulate tasks and solve problems that we as humans do, since we are the ones teaching a model how to do a task. Artificial intelligence can be used to discover new ideas and solve problems. Some of the ways you may use artificial intelligence daily are with your GPS to get somewhere, self-driving cars, text-to-speech, and so much more.
Machine learning (ML) uses data and statistics to make predictions or reach a decision. This is something that can learn and be taught, rather than be programmed to do a specific task. Machine learning tools can also potentially pick up patterns that humans can miss or improve an experience for a user. Some examples of machine learning include facial recognition, recommendations for products, or what to watch next on a streaming service.
Large language models (LLM) are created to process natural language. They are trained by text to learn patterns and grammar of human language. These models can answer questions you may have, write something for you based on a prompt provided by the user, and can even be taught coding languages. Examples of large language models include ChatGPT or Gemini.
When utilizing any of these tools to assist you with your work, it is essential to be an expert in the subject matter when using an AI tool. There is a term called “AI hallucination”, where something that is not there is perceived by an AI tool. Human experts can use AI with standards to complete a task efficiently and avoid oversight.
Librarians have the skill set to educate users on AI literacy and best practices and create educational resources on this topic. We can fill that gap with knowledge between those who are developing models and those who will be using them, such as medical professionals and researchers.
Additional resources for those interested in learning more about AI:
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