AI and the World Around You
AI can help you explore the world around you using your smartphone, tablet, or computer. Some AI tools can answer questions and complete tasks by giving verbal or written responses. They can also use your camera to analyze pictures and text and provide spoken or written information about what they see. Features and limitations vary by tool. This technology can help people with and without disabilities with everyday tasks, such as:
Reading text: Take a picture of mail, a sign, or a menu and ask AI to read or translate it.
Identifying objects: Take a picture of a plant, animal, or product and ask AI to identify it.
Exploring your surroundings: Take a picture and ask AI to describe what’s around you.
Asking follow-up questions: Ask additional questions about what the AI sees.
AI can be useful, but it has limitations. It may provide outdated information, confidently give incorrect answers, reflect biases in its training data, or misunderstand what it sees.
To get better and safer results:
Protect your privacy and the privacy of others. Avoid sharing sensitive information, such as financial information, and don't photograph or record people without their permission.
Don't rely on AI for safety-critical information, such as detecting obstacles, identifying medications, or determining dosages.
Make sure your subject is clearly visible and there is enough light.
Break complicated requests into smaller questions and ask follow-up questions when needed.
Getting the Most Out of AI
You don't need to worry about picking the "right" AI tool or understanding exactly how it works. The same basic habits can help you get better answers from most AI tools.
Give it good information. AI tools may not always have access to current information, so don't assume an answer is up to date. When possible, give the AI the information you want it to work with. Instead of asking, "What's the library's renewal policy?" try, "Here's the library's renewal policy. What does it say about audiobooks?"
Say what you need. You might get different answers depending on whether you're preparing for book club, checking a fact, or drafting an email. The AI can't always guess your purpose, so tell it.
Let it say, “I don’t know.” Try adding, "If the answer isn't in the information I gave you, say so." This can reduce the chance of the AI filling in missing information with a confident-sounding but incorrect answer.
Start fresh when you change topics. In a long conversation, AI uses information from earlier messages as context. Starting a new conversation when you switch subjects can help prevent old information from influencing a new answer.
If these habits sound familiar, they should. Where did this information come from? How current is it? Can I verify it somewhere else? Those are the questions librarians have always taught us to ask.
The tools are new. The behavior isn't.
And remember, you can always call RHPL and OTBS if you have questions!
This post was written by Chad Cecchini (Adaptive Technology Assistant) and Nicki Usiondek (Hourly Librarian)
