Virtual Event: In this talk, Dr. Melanie Walsh will share new research on the rise of automated DEI audits in public library collections. These audits, largely led by corporate vendors, raise critical questions for today's librarians, cultural heritage workers, and humanities scholars. What are the best ways to amplify marginalized voices, defend against threats to intellectual freedom, and responsibly incorporate AI and computational tools? Dr. Walsh will draw on qualitative interviews with libraries and her own technical experience as co-PI of the AI for Humanistis project to critically evaluate the effectiveness of these audits and to more broadly reflect on how LLMs and related technologies might support meaningful work.
