Impact of Conversational and Generative AI Systems on Libraries: A Use Case Large Language Model (LLM)

Early work on AI in libraries focused on information retrieval and natural language processing (NLP). For example, in the 1980s and 1990s, researchers developed algorithms for automatically indexing and categorizing library materials based on their content. One example of this work is the use of Latent Semantic Analysis (LSA) for text classification, which was pioneered by Thomas Landauer and colleagues (Landauer, Foltz, and Laham 1998). In the early 2000s, AI technologies such as machine learning and data mining began to be used more widely in libraries. These technologies were used to analyze large datasets of library usage data, to identify patterns and trends in user behavior, and to develop predictive models for library services. For example, researchers used data mining techniques to analyze circulation data and develop a model for predicting which books are likely to be checked out next (Peng and Zhou 2009). In recent years, AI technologies such as chatbots, virtual assistants, and recommender systems have become increasingly common in libraries. These technologies are used to provide personalized assistance to library users, to help them find relevant resources, and to answer their questions. For example, the University of Cambridge developed a chatbot called “LibrarySearch” that helps users find books and other materials in the library’s collection (Smith and Kargbo 2019). The use of AI in libraries has evolved over time, from early work on information retrieval and NLP to more recent applications of machine learning, data mining, chatbots, and recommender systems. There is a growing body of peer-reviewed literature on this topic, with many examples of successful applications of AI in libraries. The focus of this study is to analyze the potential impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on specific services offered by academic libraries in the near future. To assess the potential impact of AI on academic library services, three distinct AI systems, namely ChatGPT, Perplexity, and iAsk.Ai are utilized.