Bridging the AI gap: Comparative analysis of AI integration, education, and outreach in academic libraries

Abstract

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) applications, such as ChatGPT, Bard, Gemini, and Copilot, have revolutionized education, capturing the attention of faculty, administration, and students alike. Academic libraries have actively engaged in facilitating the use of AI technologies while addressing challenges like misinformation, academic integrity concerns, and ethical considerations. This study examines AI integration, education, and outreach in academic libraries across Europe, North America (Canada and USA), Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. An environmental scan of 40 academic library websites from the Times Higher Education 10 highest-ranked libraries in each region was conducted. Results show that more than 50% of the libraries offered educational materials and 42.5% conducted educational activities, while only 12.5% included AI policies. The study results demonstrate that although many libraries have begun to integrate AI into their services, significant differences exist between regions in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.