Post on 10-Aug-2020
Robots: Our New Helpers
or Our New
Overlords?
http://www.carsonblock.com
librarylandtech@gmail.com
@CarsonBlock
Hello!
• Who I am • What I believe • What I do
Our purpose today is to look at how robots & automation are impacting
our lives & work; how they are (and may be) used in
libraries; and explore strategic perspectives!
As we go, I encourage you to be selfish
(to serve the greater good of your community).
Great libraries are hyper-local.
We’ll also be looking at this topic from a 30,000 foot level - much
different from other trainings I’ve done in Texas.
Want Links? Please email me at: librarylandtech@gmail.com Subject: TSLAC Robots Submit questions via the chat Tweet? Use your personal publishing power! • #TSLAC-robots • @carsonblock
We are surrounded by AI, robots and automation!
At SXSW Interactive, I saw AI, robots and automation everywhere. From cute….
….still cute….
….to kind of cute n’ creepy.
So, how did we get here?
Remember when…
Image by William Wallace Denslow, 1899 (from the “Wonderful Wizard of Oz” by Frank Baum)
Portrayals of robots in popular media have evolved since the days
of the Tin Man…
I Robot & Asimov's laws
The Three Laws, quoted as being from the fictional "Handbook of Robotics, 56th Edition, 2058 A.D.", are: A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws.
Entertainment media reflects our current ambiguous feelings about
robots and automation
Our thinking today (and for the time being) can be guided by
headlines from real life…
In the process, we’ll try to sort out the issues…
Feel surrounded yet?
Why should we learn about Artificial Intelligence (AI), Automation and Robots?
Why learn about AI, Robots and Automation?
• Our digital world is changing quickly – and expectations for automated services are increasing.
• Generally, libraries are not ready to meet these expectations.
• Some of these changes are entering into some services traditionally held by libraries.
Two more media references…
By Cryteria - Own work, CC BY 3.0
How many have already met your new robot friend ?
(Alexa - a Virtual Digital Assistant was just in time for the 2016 holidays)
But of course…
This space is moving quickly…
This space is moving quickly…
This space is moving quickly…
This space is moving quickly…
…and competition
is fierce.
Library Competition Alert
But, like Google, is “close” close enough for the public?
Siri still tops use (but dropping)…
Did you see the “gotcha?” The most used is the least accurate. For now.
Sidebar: What makes Robots,
AI and Automation
tick?
What happened in Q3 2016 that brought real life robots back into
the public eye?
…and tragedy in 2018
How do robots & automation work?
Data Mining and Patterns
At it’s simplest, it’s an if/then situation (think “flowchart”)
This is one way you can program your home Internet of Things (IoT) Devices
If This Then That examples
If This Then That examples
More ideas: https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2424077,00.asp
From there it can get complicated…
What is Artificial Intelligence? (AI)
What is Machine Learning?
“Machine Learning is branch of artificial intelligence that allows computer systems to
learn directly from examples, data and experience.”
– from Machine Learning: the power and promise of computers that learn by example (The Royal Society, UK)
Machine Learning
• Starts with *lots* of data (got it)
• Requires *lots* of processing power (got it)
• Instead of “Step by Step” computing, machine learning programs are designed to tell a computer *how* to solve a problem.
• The *how* involves pattern recognition that lead to decisions (by the computer)
Obligatory Pet Graphic – wanna play?
https://royalsociety.org/topics-policy/projects/machine-learning/what-is-machine-learning-infographic/
Here’s a “simple” example from MIT – self-assembling robots (2013)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aZbJS6LZbs
And today…
A self-driving car has lots of these measures, pattern recognition and decisions happening at the same
time…
Chatbots
Chatbots gone bad
BBC – How Automation Will Affect You
Sidebar: The Uncanny Valley
Image Source: Half-pass - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0
“The concept of the uncanny valley suggests that humanoid objects which appear almost, but not exactly, like real human beings elicit uncanny, or strangely familiar, feelings of eeriness and revulsion in observers. Valley denotes a dip in the human observer's affinity for the replica, a relation that otherwise increases with the replica's human likeness.”
What is your reaction to this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SRYFI3Nf-o
Again - why learn about AI, Robots and Automation?
• Our digital world is changing quickly – and expectations for automated services are increasing.
• Generally, libraries are not ready to meet these expectations
• Some of these changes are entering into some services traditionally held by libraries
• And…….
AI, Robots and Automation will begin to affect the communities we
serve soon – if they haven’t already.
How might robots affect the workforce?
From the Economic Innovation Group
Some service industries using robots and automation…
“Harvey Wallbanger”
Chipotle and other ordering aps
Sidebar: Robots in Libraries (pre 2018)
We cant look at robots in Libraries without comparing core business
systems
Ours: Often hard to get data out of the system; closed/proprietary standards (hard to iterate); not changing much
Theirs: Based on data collection & analysis; open standards (easy to iterate); radically evolving & adapting
ILS
• Automates & integrates many business and communications processes
• Mostly closed systems
• Technologically long in the tooth
Holds Notification
• Robo-calls
• Robo-Text
https://pmlib.org/dont-forget-to-return-your-library-items-with-text-alerts/
Automated Materials Handling Systems (AMH)
Storage and Retrieval of Materials
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/robot-librarian-designed-aberystwyth-university-students#survey-answer
But beware the Uncanny
Valley…
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-22/first-of-its-kind-humanoid-robot-joins-library-staff/8140428
Despite some strides, Libraries have a way to go.
We can get up to speed by making the right moves now!
What new roles might there be for libraries in the robot revolution?
How can libraries be strategic in
this new world?
What prevents us from innovating?
Sometimes it’s this…
We can avoid this…
We can also take more sophisticated approach to our own
collection and use of data.
This starts with more conversations – everywhere in libraryland.
Suggested Rule 1: Remain Trustworthy and Responsible
• Surveys say: Libraries are trustworthy, and librarians are trusted
Suggested Rule 2: Never compromise patron confidentiality
and privacy – by statute, culture and sophisticated technology
measures
Suggested Rule 3: Be unafraid of the conversations about data
collection and use to serve patrons in a manner consistent with our
laws and culture of confidentiality and privacy
What can libraries do?
What can we do as individuals?
We need key Paradigm Shifts:
Design Thinking
Investment in Research & Development
$ *and* time contingencies
First: Decide *if* you want to play
Next: Explore and articulate your vision for what you hope to
achieve
Finally: Clearly Identify your boundaries
Strategic Perspectives
• Think: services to patrons
• Think: tools for staff (to provide services to patrons)
• Think: data collection & analyzation
• Think: build vs buy
• Think: Function first, shiny second
• Think: leveraging automation to free up humans to do human work
Possible brainstorming frameworks:
• Opportunities: how can we use robots to help ourselves in our facilities and our services?
• Services to Patrons: if our robot overlords take over (i.e. displace jobs), how can we help our communities?
• Personal Skills: Learn more about how these robots actually work before it’s too late…
Tackle things wisely
• Basic
• Medium
• Advanced
Basic/Opportunity: Your Library is smarter than Siri
Basic/Services to Patrons: Workforce Retooling (localized)
• Support creative industries and individuals through:
– Materials
– Learning Opportunities
– Programs
– Spaces
– Access
Services to Patrons: Chatbots
Advanced/Services to Patrons: Participate in ”Smart Cities”
How About Robot-Free Zones?
Well, both.
If we just react, more towards the overlords.
If we’re proactive, More towards the
helpers.
Again, our world is evolving into a new place – offering new tools and
opportunities.
How will we (as library leaders) choose to change
or *not* change?
Want Links? Want to share your thoughts?
• Please email me at: librarylandtech@gmail.com
• Subject: TSLAC Robots
Tweet? #TSLAC-robots @carsonblock
Thank You!
And much thanks to Stephen Bero (IL) for suggesting this idea and my
assistant Bonnie Nichols who helped with research.
@CarsonBlock
www.carsonblock.com