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Title:
Artificial Intelligence and Information Literacy in the Era of Academic Database-Enhanced Generative AI: Emerging Challenges, Novel Approaches, and Future Directions
Abstract:
In library science, information literacy refers to the ability to effectively use and evaluate information for research, problem-solving, decision-making, and communication. Key strategies for information literacy include evaluating information sources, employing effective search techniques, verifying accuracy, and understanding ethical considerations in information use. Librarians often work with educators to provide workshops and instruction to help students become familiar with these strategies and to develop critical thinking and reading skills. These existing information literacy strategies are increasingly challenged by the rapid development of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI). The evolving landscape makes it more difficult to evaluate and verify information sources, and prompt engineering is beginning to replace traditional search strategies. Additionally, there is an urgent need to develop strategies for the ethical use of GenAI-generated information. The introduction of generative AI tools supported by academic databases brings both challenges and opportunities to academia and academic research. This paper presents a pioneering analysis of these new tools, focusing on the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database, a leading platform for academic search in China and among overseas users in Chinese Studies. In March 2024, CNKI launched CNKI SMART, a generative AI tool that is designed to perform tasks including analyzing materials, generating reports, summaries, and literature reviews, drafting research outlines, and copyediting. The advent of CNKI SMART and other academic database-anchored GenAI tools are transforming researchers’ and students’ search strategies and information behaviors. This paper, taking CNKI SMART as an example, aims to assess the effectiveness of these AI and GenAI tools in addressing common reference questions and research inquiries. We seek to develop innovative information literacy strategies to help patrons navigate the evolving research landscape effectively, based on our evaluation findings. Additionally, we encourage librarians and educators to engage in meaningful discussions with database providers to gain deeper insights into these tools' mechanisms. Such interactions are essential for helping educators and students to adeptly handle the new challenges and opportunities presented by AI and GenAI integration.
