Artificial intelligence and machine learning: improving the efficiency of library services

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a growing phenomenon that has increasingly moved into public consciousness with the creation of tangible products such as Siri and smart cars (Cox, Pinfield and Rutter, 2019, p. 418). Fernandez (2016, p. 5) defines AI as “a group of technologies that attempt to enable computers to solve problems in more dynamic ways than they previously have been able to do”. Machine learning is a subset which, through basic rules, allows AI to “encounter information and run simulations so that it can begin to develop its own conclusions about how to respond to new stimuli” (ibid). With an exponential growth in available information to library users, discovery of relevant information has become a more difficult endeavour. Three examples of AI and machine learning will be examined that are likely to infiltrate library services. Chatbots, text mining, and automatic metadata generation have the potential to improve the efficiency of library services. These technologies are at varying stages of development, from physical to theoretical concepts, and are all exciting prospects for the future of library services