This summer, a new speaker series, Critical AI Literacy for Information Work, will launch, hosted by Oregon State University Libraries and the AI Literacy Center. Registration is open to library workers, students, educators, and the broader community. The speaker series is designed to address the unique challenges of information work in an environment where AI systems are increasingly shaping how information is accessed, processed and shared.

Our first speaker in the series is Kiri Wagstaff, Ph.D.

What do we need to know about artificial intelligence?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere these days, from transcribing meetings and summarizing web search results to recommending movies, driving cars, and even serving as your virtual best friend.  Widespread deployment of powerful, fluent generative AI systems has raised new questions about intellectual property, bias, liability, authorship, and more.  Let’s talk about how we can make savvy decisions about when (and whether) to use this technology.  We’ll discuss what AI is, how it manifests in our daily lives, and some common issues.  Come with your questions and concerns so we can learn from each other!

Biography

Dr. Kiri Wagstaff is an artificial intelligence researcher, educator, and special advisor on artificial intelligence for the Oregon State University Libraries. She previously served as a principal researcher at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, with a focus on deploying machine learning systems that help us explore, understand, and learn about the universe. She recently spent a year as an AI subject matter expert in the U.S. Senate through the AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowship program. She earned her Ph.D. in computer science from Cornell University, followed by an M.S. in geological sciences (University of Southern California) and an MLIS in library and information science (San Jose State University).  She received the Lew Allen Award for Excellence in Research and two NASA Exceptional Technology Achievement Medals.  She is passionate about empowering people to make informed decisions about when and how to use AI in their daily lives.

The event was made possible by funding from the OSU Libraries Gray Family Fund.