Let’s Have a Serious Talk About Generative AI: How STEM Librarians should be leading a conversation

As the initial interests in Generative AI tools has moved from something new and unclear to familiar tools that are already being adopted by STEM faculty and students. Vendors such as Elsevier and Clarivate are working on new AI tools that will be incorporated into their existing databases and products. Unlike other 3rd party Generative AI startups, who mostly are trying to monetize their tools by providing a solution to a problem that may or may not exist. Publishers are more cautious in providing an enhanced tool that compliments their existing products. These vendors also have a long history with information retrieval systems and the community they support. Not like many 3rd party startups who consists primarily of software engineers and marketing staff. Vendors are open to offering BETA testing getting feedback from the library and academic community. Now is the time for libraries, especially STEM librarians to get involved in the conversation as well as the process. Take advantage of the open invention from our vendors to provide constructive feedback. This session with discuss how STEM librarians can get involved by reaching out to vendors, request BETA access to upcoming AI tools, conversations with your library collections, learn what other institutions have been doing, join AI library groups/listservs, etc. Learn about what to consider when looking at these AI tools from vendors. Session will include a demo of Web of Science Research assistant and comparison of non-vendors specific tools such as Perplexity.ai or Keenious. Learn how these vendor specific tools differ from AI tools that want to change the way we gather information.