AI Adoption in Academic Libraries: A Comparative Study of UK and Chinese Universities

By Dr Silpaja Chandrasekar, PhDReviewed by Susha Cheriyedath, M.Sc.Sep 7 2023

In a paper published in the journal The Journal of Academic Librarianship, researchers examined the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in academic libraries. They studied the way top universities in the United Kingdom (UK) and China integrated AI into their strategies. While Chinese universities emphasized AI in their vision statements, UK universities rarely mentioned it in their plans. The prioritization of AI in academic library strategies was generally low despite some libraries implementing AI applications. This study offers valuable insights into AI adoption across academic libraries by providing international comparisons of experiences in the field.

The rapid development of AI is reshaping daily life, with countries like the United States (US), European Union, UK, and China prioritizing AI development. However, the adoption of AI in libraries has been slow due to challenges such as integration and cost, despite AI being considered in libraries for years. However, libraries remain optimistic about the potential of AI.

Related Work

Past works included proposals back to the 1980s for using Expert Systems based on AI for document processing by showcasing the potential applications of AI in libraries. However, the sustainable development of such systems faced challenges due to expertise requirements and limited application scenarios. The adoption of AI in libraries was initially slow. The mention of AI in strategic plans was rare despite the growing accessibility of AI due to advancements in natural language processing and reduced hardware costs over time. However, recent years have witnessed a growing acceptance of AI in libraries, focusing on resource discovery, virtual agents, and machine-readable collections. These challenges persist notably in areas like privacy and bias, encompassing integration issues and ethical concerns.

Methodology

Adoption of AI in Universities: The study focused on universities and their libraries, emphasizing high-prestige institutions. These universities were selected based on the QS World University Rankings 2022, which included the top 25 in the UK and the top 25 in Mainland China. The rationale behind this selection was that prestigious universities often have more funding and are more inclined to embrace cutting-edge concepts and technologies. The study analyzed university and library strategies to recognize the importance of alignment between them. To address language differences, the study reviewed documents in English and Simplified Chinese and conducted website searches using AI-related keywords in both languages.

Findings on AI Adoption: The results of the website study revealed that all sampled universities had strategic plans that would typically span 4 to 10 years. Among these universities, AI and Machine Learning (AI/ML) were mentioned in the strategies of 24 universities, with 21 of them located in China and 3 in the UK. The discussion of AI/ML in these documents mainly pertained to the development of AI-related academic programs and disciplines rather than direct applications within university libraries. Nonetheless, 5 universities expressed aspirations to build smart libraries in their vision sections.

AI in Libraries: The study also explored the presence of AI applications in university libraries. None of the 19 libraries with strategic plans mentioned AI/ML in these documents. The study identified 18 libraries, including 2 in the UK and 16 in China, that have introduced AI-related services. These services included intelligent virtual agents, inquiry robots, or Chatbots. However, many of them were based on pre-existing Q&A datasets rather than true AI agents. The study identified one library in China that developed a genuine AI-based smart talking robot.

Discussion

The discussion delves into the contrast between Chinese and British universities regarding their approach to AI adoption. Chinese universities tend to emphasize concrete and detailed plans for AI development by focussing on AI-related academic programs and disciplines. In contrast, British universities lean toward broader aspirations in their strategic plans, with less emphasis on specific majors or technologies. Notably, neither group of universities discusses the application of AI in libraries within their strategic documents. Adopting AI-related services in the context of libraries seems to be progressing slowly, with only a few libraries introducing genuine AI products.

Challenges in implementing AI in libraries encompass technical barriers, integration complexities, and resource limitations. These obstacles may lead libraries to prioritize traditional services over technological advancements. Additionally, concerns about the ethical implications of AI contribute to the cautious approach of the libraries. While prudence is necessary, there exists a significant opportunity for libraries to embrace AI thoughtfully. They can explore its potential benefits, including enhancing operational efficiency and staying at the forefront of technology adoption. This should be aligned with their values and user needs. Balancing this caution with innovation is essential as libraries consider integrating AI into their strategic plans.

Conclusion

In summary, this study explored AI adoption in Chinese and British academic libraries and found that Chinese libraries stand out in providing intelligent services, while British libraries seem to approach them with caution because of the uncertainties about their effectiveness. More research is needed to fully understand the role of AI in libraries. In general, libraries should adopt AI prudently to stay relevant in higher education by considering factors like funding, value, and ethics.