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

pEarly work on AI in libraries focused on information retrieval and natural language processing (NLP).brFor example, in the 1980s and 1990s, researchers developed algorithms for automatically indexing andbrcategorizing library materials based on their content. One example of this work is the use of LatentbrSemantic Analysis (LSA) for text classification, which was pioneered by Thomas Landauer andbrcolleagues (Landauer, Foltz, and Laham 1998).brIn the early 2000s, AI technologies such as machine learning and data mining began to be usedbrmore widely in libraries. These technologies were used to analyze large datasets of library usage data, tobridentify patterns and trends in user behavior, and to develop predictive models for library services. Forbrexample, researchers used data mining techniques to analyze circulation data and develop a model forbrpredicting which books are likely to be checked out next (Peng and Zhou 2009).brIn recent years, AI technologies such as chatbots, virtual assistants, and recommender systems havebrbecome increasingly common in libraries. These technologies are used to provide personalizedbrassistance to library users, to help them find relevant resources, and to answer their questions. Forbrexample, the University of Cambridge developed a chatbot called LibrarySearch that helps users findbrbooks and other materials in the librarys collection (Smith and Kargbo 2019). The use of AI inbrlibraries has evolved over time, from early work on information retrieval and NLP to more recentbrapplications of machine learning, data mining, chatbots, and recommender systems. There is a growingbody of peer-reviewed literature on this topic, with many examples of successful applications of AI in libraries.brThe focus of this study is to analyze the potential impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on specificbrservices offered by academic libraries in the near future. To assess the potential impact of AI onbracademic library services, three distinct AI systems, namely ChatGPT, Perplexity, and iAsk.Ai arebrutilized./p