Course Description
This course (INF2138H – AI in Library Science: Social, Political, Practical Impacts) explores the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the field of library and information science, with a focus on its social, political, and practical implications. Students will critically examine how AI technologies influence information access, data management, and the curation of knowledge. Topics include AI-driven metadata management, machine learning applications in cataloging and discovery, and the ethical concerns surrounding bias, privacy, and surveillance in AI systems. The course will also address the challenges AI poses to intellectual freedom, equity in information access, and the shifting roles of librarians and information professionals in an AI-augmented landscape.
Through case studies, theoretical readings, and practical applications, students will gain the skills to navigate the evolving information environment shaped by AI and develop strategies to ensure ethical and equitable use of AI technologies in library settings. This course will prepare students to critically engage with AI technologies, fostering an understanding of their potential benefits while also addressing the risks and ethical considerations that these technologies bring to the information sciences.
Recommended preparation: INF1321H Representing, Documenting, and Accessing the Cultural Record.