My new favorite research partner is an AI: What roles can librarians play in the future?

Abstract

The research process has always involved collaboration, from brainstorming sessions to writing groups. Researchers rely on their peers for direction, encouragement, and insight. What if the collaborator was not human? What if the partner were a machine? This was the question I pondered as I started my most recent research project. As an academic librarian, I’ve always been interested in discovering innovative ways to assist researchers. As soon as I learned that AI assistants could help researchers in their work, I knew I had to give it a shot. And so, I began working with ChatGPT, a powerful generative AI tool.