Truth & Information? Preparing Information Organization & Retrieval Students for an AI Future

Artificial intelligence (AI) is not a new concept or technology, but has taken the world by storm with the recent advancement of generative AI, such as ChatGPT and Bard. The metadata, cataloging, collections, and retrieval areas of library and information studies (LIS) are already experiencing disruption and soul-searching because of generative AI, but it remains to be seen to what extent the technology can benefit, or even harm, these areas of LIS. The Metadata, Cataloging, & Collections SIG session will include a panel of three educators who will discuss the use of artificial intelligence in information retrieval and cataloging courses, and provide ideas for educators hoping to learn more about the impact of AI and how to incorporate activities and discussions of AI in their courses. Priya Kizhakkethil will report on student perceptions of AI in the LIS curriculum, with a focus on Information Retrieval courses. With the emergence of Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) tools like ChatGPT, there has been much discussion about its impact on libraries and the work of librarianship. But there is a gap in the literature that addresses how such disruptive technologies should be addressed in the LIS curriculum. This presentation covers a work in progress pilot study seeking to understand LIS student perceptions on the use of generative AI tools as part of their course work. Themes relating to student perceptions on the use of Gen AI tools for an Information Retrieval course will be discussed, which includes the potential ways of using these tools as noted by the students. Vyacheslav (Slava) Zavalin will discuss the critical need for understanding the AI landscape and its application to information organization within LIS. He will demonstrate using Google Gemini, the AI-powered assistant, to create bibliographic examples and then analyze and discuss the accuracy of the records. Karen Snow recently assigned advanced cataloging students an exercise that required them to create a basic MARC/RDA bibliographic record using ChatGPT. The resulting transcripts of their conversations with ChatGPT, and their reflections on the experience, were a fascinating demonstration of the benefits/drawbacks of AI in cataloging work, but also of the importance of educating students on how to effectively use AI. After the presentations, audience members will be encouraged to ask questions and offer their own experiences and ideas concerning this area of LIS education. These presentations align well with the ALISE 2024 conference theme of “The Ethics and Evolution of Truth and Information.”