On December 12, 2024, the Chinese American Librarians Association(CALA) Asia Pacific Chapter hosted the fifth webinar in 2024, exploring the transformative impact of AI and large language models (LLMs) on academic search. Renowned librarian and AI enthusiast, Aaron Tay, Head of Data Services at Singapore Management University Libraries, delivered a compelling presentation that shed light on the evolving landscape of academic research and the crucial role of AI tools.
Aaron discussed two major categories of AI tools: citation-based literature mapping tools (e.g., Connected Papers, ResearchRabbit) and LLMs (e.g., GPT models). He highlighted the potential of these tools to revolutionize the way researchers discover and access information, offering enhanced search capabilities, direct answer generation, and data synthesis.
“AI tools offer numerous advantages over traditional search methods,” explains Tay. “They can understand the semantics of queries, go beyond keyword matching, and deliver more relevant results. They can also generate direct answers, summarizing information from multiple sources and offering insights that might be missed through traditional research methods.”
However, Tay also emphasized the limitations of AI search tools, including potential biases, non-deterministic results, and the need for careful evaluation of AI-generated content. He highlighted the crucial role of librarians in navigating the AI landscape, guiding researchers in effectively utilizing these tools, and ensuring responsible usage.
“AI and search are here today! What will you (librarian) LEARN & teach?” Tay asked the audience, prompting reflection on the future of academic search and the role of libraries in this evolving landscape.
The webinar concluded with a call to action for librarians to embrace AI literacy, become guides in the AI landscape, and advocate for responsible AI usage within the academic community.
“Thank Aaron Tay for sharing his expertise and vision. We look forward to continuing the conversation and exploring the future of academic search with our community,” said the organizers.
The December webinar recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWDg1RvWlrA
The AI series webinars hosted by CALA AP Chapter in 2024:
| Date & Time | Speaker | Topic | No. of Registrants | No. of Attendees |
| June 16, 2024, 9-10 AM | Ying Ye Wei Liu | AI Technologies and Applications | 82 | 48 |
| June 17, 2024, 9-10 AM | Laurie Bridges | AI’s Impact on Future Libraries | 64 | 52 |
| Sept. 26, 2024, 9-10 AM | Charlene Chou | AI on Knowledge Access and Discovery | 187 | 77 |
| Sept. 27, 2024, 9-10 AM | Xuemei Zhang Yanan Xie | AI for Information Literacy | 148 | 67 |
| Dec. 12, 2024 9-10 AM | Aaron Tay | AI for Academic Search | 148 | 62 |
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