The Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County (PLYMC) held an event for the community on Tuesday, July 21: Community Discussion – The Ethics of AI.
The goal was to give the community an opportunity to ask questions, voice their thoughts and share their concerns about artificial intelligence and its impact on society.
“The library is a great place to come and connect with your community and have these conversations,” said Erin Phemester, the Chief Experience Officer at the PLYMC.
She continues that many participants have expressed opposing viewpoints during these conversations, ranging from excitement to apprehension or about artificial intelligence’s capability for improving their lives.
“We don’t have the answers; we’ve got just as many questions as everybody who is coming to these events,” said Phemester.
Phemester continues, “I think it opens people’s minds and it opens people’s eyes to the different perspectives that are in our community and it helps you to see a way that [artificial intelligence] might impact somebody differently than you had considered.”
She indicates that the conversations are a part of a grant through the Urban Library Council and Everyday Democracy, and Phemester encourages anyone interested in having these conversations to visit the PLYMC website to see when the next one is.
Although Tuesday’s conversation surrounding artificial intelligence was the last in the series, the library plans to host several more throughout the year, varying in topic.
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