The algorithmic mirror: Academic libraries under the gaze of artificial intelligence - stereotypes, invisibilities, and the critical (re)construction of professional identities

Abstract

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI), particularly generative systems such as ChatGPT, DALL-E, and Midjourney, has rapidly become a socio-technical actor that not only mediates information but also shapes cultural imaginaries of professional identity Purpose: This study examines how AI intersects with stereotypes, invisibility, and the (re)construction of professional identities in academic librarianship Research Design: A systematic literature review was conducted following the PRISMA protocol. Study Sample: Records were retrieved from Web of Science and Scopus covering the period 2020–2025. Data Collection and/or Analysis: A total of 775 records were screened, and 63 articles were included in the final analysis Results: The review revealed a striking absence of explicit engagement with academic librarians, even within the growing body of work on AI in higher education and knowledge work. When libraries were addressed, they were framed primarily as sites of techno- logical implementation rather than as epistemic communities. This silence signifies the epistemic marginalization of librarianship within discourses of AI adoption and ethics Conclusions: AI functions as an algorithmic mirror: amplifying reductive stereotypes, privileging functionalist narratives, and rendering invisible librarians’ pedagogical, ethical,