North Chatham Free Library Offers 'Bye Bye AI' Class to Help Patrons Remove AI Features from Devices
The North Chatham Free Library in upstate New York has gained significant attention for its upcoming 'Bye Bye AI' event, designed to help patrons remove artificial intelligence features from their phones and laptops. The initiative was spearheaded by Shea Wert, the library's sole full-time librarian, in response to community demand and concerns about AI. The event flyer went viral on Facebook, attracting widespread interest from individuals far beyond the small hamlet. This 'Bye Bye AI' class follows a previous 'AI for seniors' class that covered basic AI concepts. The library also offers weekly tech support drop-in hours. The concept for the 'Bye Bye AI' class was inspired by another librarian, Hannah Cyrus, who has successfully offered similar classes and published on the role of libraries in facilitating technology rejection. Wert noted that many patrons, particularly older adults, express frustration with new AI features automatically integrated into services they already use, such as Gmail's auto-repl...
