Facing the era of generative artificial intelligence: Strategies of information and digital literacy in Chinese studies

Since 30 November 2022, when OpenAI launched ChatGPT, generative artificial intelligence has emerged as a subject of growing prominence. Various academic divisions, including academic librarianship, are closely monitoring the potential impact of generative artificial intelligence on their respective futures. Esteemed librarian associations such as the Council on East Asian Libraries have actively utilized industry-wide conventions to foster scholarly conversations, discussions, and debates regarding the influence of generative artificial intelligence on librarianship. This project draws inspiration from such discourse and is conducted by four Chinese and East Asian studies librarians from four prestigious American universities. Based on extensive first-hand experiments, they conclude that amidst the opportunities and challenges presented by generative artificial intelligence, the specialized expertise and knowledge possessed by area studies specialists is increasingly significant in shaping its implications for their field.