Regarding Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), AI can play a significant role in enhancing the services provided by librarians and improving the overall educational experience.
Here are some ways AI is being used in HBCUs and their libraries:
Diversifying AI Teams: HBCUs like Tougaloo College, Morgan State University, and Hampton University have partnered with the Deloitte AI Institute to discuss the importance of maintaining a diverse AI team to help mitigate unwanted racial and gender biases1. Diverse teams can bring multiple perspectives to the design of AI applications, which is critical as this technology learns and improves over time.
Building AI Literacy: HBCUs are working towards building AI literacy among their students to future-proof Black families2. Dr. Matthew M. DeForrest from North Carolina’s Johnson C. Smith University emphasizes that gen AI can magnify existing marginalization if models are trained with historical biases2. To counteract this, the university collaborates with major tech companies to ensure their graduates bring diverse experiences to the workforce.
Incorporating AI into Education: Some HBCUs are looking into the potential of integrating AI into education3. For example, Dr. Robbie Melton, the vice president of technology innovation strategies, interim provost, and acting vice president of academic affairs, conducted AI demonstrations, including creating curriculum and lessons in under 4 minutes and art and music in less than two minutes.
AI Tools for Literature Review: AI tools can assist with all aspects of the literature review process in libraries4. This includes understanding the terminology behind the technology, learning about prompt engineering, the art of interacting with AI agents and using various AI tools4.
Confronting Racial Disparities in AI Development: HBCUs are taking the lead in examining and confronting racial disparities and bias in how AI is developed and used5.
These initiatives show the potential of AI in enhancing library services and the overall educational experience at HBCUs. However, it’s important to note that the successful implementation of AI requires careful consideration of ethical issues, including the potential for bias in AI systems.