Artificial Intelligence is everywhere these days, but is AI an indispensable tool or a threat to life as we know it? In January, Chillicothe Public Library will explore a few angles of this multifaceted topic. 

On Tuesday, January 9 at 1:00 pm, Dr. Tony Grichnik of Blue Roof Labs and Bradley University will present “The End of the Beginning: Intelligence, Creativity and AI.” Can we actually make a computer intelligent and creative like humans are? How would we know if it was? This will be an engaging conversation around what it means to be human from an AI’s point of view. 

That point of view will be front and center the following week on Tuesday, January 16 at 6:30 pm, when Books & Brew, the library’s adult book club, discusses All Systems Red, by Martha Wells. This Hugo and Nebula Award-winning first novel in the Murderbot Diaries series relates the adventures of a cynical, self-aware security robot that has hacked its own governor module. Readers can check out a copy at the library, or access an eBook or eAudiobook through the Boundless, Libby, or Hoopla apps. 

Returning to the real world on Tuesday, January 30 at 6:00 pm, Bradley University professor Dr. Cory Barker presents “A.I., Deepfakes, and How to Trust What You See Online.” News organizations are experimenting with artificial intelligence. Bad-faith actors are using deepfake technology to manipulate coverage of wars and elections. Learn more about these emerging challenges to our understanding of the world and what you can do to confidently consume information online. 

But AI isn’t all doom and gloom, and the library is also inviting people to explore some of its more playful and creative aspects. During the month of January (starting on National Science Fiction Day on January 2), you can use generative AI (like ChatGPT or DALL-E) to create a sci-fi-themed poem (10 lines max) or image. Submit it to our Facebook gallery of creations by emailing it to [email protected]. In addition to your poem or image, include 1) the AI tool you used, 2) the wording of the prompt you used to create it, and 3) your first name and last initial. 

For more information about these and other programs and services offered by Chillicothe Public Library, visit chillipld.org or call 309-274-2719. The library is located at 430 N. Bradley Ave., Chillicothe, IL 61523.