AI poll results: What we learned
Part 1 in a series on AI
As part of our ongoing work on AI, we launched a poll in February’s Crossroads newsletter asking how AI is showing up in your library work. These poll results will inform our upcoming AI content and programming. Let’s dig into what you shared and what we learned!
The two AI topics that are most interesting to respondents are “tools and applications in my work” and “benefits, risks, and ethics.”
Respondents were asked how often their work involves using AI, and the most popular answer was “rarely” chosen by 27% of respondents. By contrast, the least popular answer was “daily” chosen by 12% of respondents. About half of respondents use AI in their work 1-2 times per month or more frequently, with the other half using AI rarely or never at all.
Respondents were asked how comfortable they felt explaining AI concepts, and the results fell into a bell curve distribution. The most popular answer chosen by 39% of the respondents was “neutral,” while 6% of respondents were “very comfortable” and 11% were “very uncomfortable.”
When respondents were asked to share a question that they wanted answered about AI, the range was considerable, with the most common questions involving ethical concerns such as "How can anyone justify using AI when it steals the work of real people?" and “Will AI take over my position in the future?” Additionally, questions concerning environmental impacts appeared repeatedly. About 25% of questions focused on practical implementation of AI in libraries, seeking specific use cases, tools, and applications. Many respondents asked variations of "How are other libraries using and benefiting from AI?" and "How can AI be used to make library services more innovative?"
Approximately 20% of questions centered on the educational role of libraries regarding AI, with respondents asking how to teach patrons about AI capabilities and limitations, how to identify AI-generated content, and ethical use.
A significant minority (roughly 15%) expressed strong skepticism or resistance to AI adoption, questioning why libraries should use AI at all, given its perceived drawbacks.
The questions suggest that while there is curiosity about AI applications, the majority of respondents have significant reservations about its implementation in library settings, particularly regarding ethical considerations.
Some of the poll results are reflective of sentiments discovered in a recent Pew study that indicates that the majority of workers do not use AI regularly, and that a major concern is the potential impact of AI on the future of the work/job market.
There is much to learn and explore as the AI landscape evolves. Our thanks to the 238 people who shared their thoughts in the poll. Stay tuned for more resources about AI and public libraries on WebJunction soon, and register now for a webinar on May 1 that will include a panel and discussion.