AI and Machine Learning: What to know and how to talk about it to researchers and patrons

This paper examines Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) through two distinct lenses. Section one, through the lens of an academic librarian, discusses integrating Generative AI tools, ChatGPT, and Gemini into the classroom and the need for academic libraries to adapt and support faculty, researchers, and students in AI literacy. This section details the creation of an AI task force, community of practice, and salon series within the George Mason University Libraries as a model for responding to these challenges. Section two, through the lens of researchers and their perspective on the uses and misuses of AI and ML, evaluates various AI technologies, including their strengths and weaknesses, and the ethical considerations surrounding their use, including bias in training data, data ownership, and environmental impact. Together, these sections offer a comprehensive overview of AI and ML and highlight both the opportunities and challenges they present for researchers and patrons.