Hopping on the AI train?

Ethical and practical considerations for the adoption of AI tools in research and higher education

Authors

Keywords:

artificial intelligence, research ethics, library ethics, publishing, scientific integrity

Abstract

The most recent wave of developments in AI has commanded both awe and apprehension about what these innovations mean for the future of science, scholarly communication, and librarianship. In a paradigm characterized by fierce competition, as illustrated by the pervasive culture of publish or perish, the rapid development and diffusion of AI-based tools can bring challenges to existing frameworks for research ethics. AI is likely to challenge the integrity of scientific enterprise in ways that are yet to be seen, and these impacts extend to the operation of libraries, publishers and more.

This workshop seeks to promote a collective exploration of what implications the adoption of AI tools brings to the scientific endeavor. No prior knowledge of AI is required. In advance of the workshop, the room will be arranged in three tables, each marked with one of three topics: (1) research values, accountability and integrity, (2) publishing, open science and science communication, (3) competencies of teaching and research support staff. Participants chose their seats according to their preferred topic (not necessarily related to their specific professional identity).

The workshop agenda is as follows:

  1. Setting the stage (10 min). Welcome and agenda for the workshop. Information about the posters. The facilitators will introduce themselves and present the three themes.
    • research values, accountability, and integrity.
    • publishing, open science, and science communication.
    • competencies of teaching and research support staff.
  2. Group work (50 min). According to each table’s theme, participants will be given time to work with dilemmas or case examples. Each table will work on the following perspectives:
    • What? Discussion: Participants discuss while writing on Post-its or directly on A2 paper sheet comments, and notes: What ethical issues are emerging from the given dilemma? Participants will be requested to arrange their notes in topic clusters (affinity mapping) and give them names.
    • So what? Discussion: What do these developments mean (for science, libraries, society)? What are the possible consequences? Why should anyone care? Each group will be oriented to create a mind map (https://www.sessionlab.com/methods/mind-map) of this landscape on a new A2 paper sheet.
    • Now what? Discussion: Do ethical frameworks need to be revised (and how)? What measures need to be in place as AI tools become mainstream? Who is in a position to implement such measures? What is the role of libraries, publishers, and other support units in safeguarding the upholding of ethical principles? The groups will be guided to use a simple impact and effort matrix pre-defined on an A2 paper sheet (https://www.sessionlab.com/methods/impact-and-effort-matrix).
  3. Plenum discussion (30 min).

The expected outcome is that participants gain a clearer understanding of the ethical challenges to come as a consequence of AI, and more confidence to champion these discussions at their home institutions. Moreover, facilitators expect to publish insights from the workshop (in a format yet to be determined). Finally, the workshop aims to plant the seeds for future work on guidelines that libraries can use when assessing the adoption or promotion of new AI tools.

Author Biographies

Andrea Alessandro Gasparini, University of Oslo

Andrea Gasparini finished in February 2020 his Ph.D. at the Department of Informatics, University of Oslo, Norway. His Ph.D. is about the use of Design Thinking and Service Design in academic libraries. Right after, he had a part-time position in the same department as a senior lecturer for one year. In March 2022, he started in the same position, and from August 2022, he is also acting leader of the Regenerative technologies research group. He has also worked for more than 20 years as a chief engineer at the University of Oslo Library.

Leticia Antunes Nogueira, Nord University

Leticia Antunes Nogueira is senior research librarian at Nord University. She holds a PhD in innovation economics from Aalborg University and worked as a senior researcher before joining the University Library. As a researcher, Nogueira has been concerned with how technological changes affects the economy and society, and what these changes mean for various social values and institutions. As a research librarian, Nogueira works to support students from bachelor's to PhD level in developing and strengthening their information literacy competencies. She has been actively engaged with investigating how universities should deal with the challenges and opportunities that artificial intelligence brings.

Eystein Gullbekk, University of Oslo

Eystein Gullbekk is the Head of Teaching and Learning Services at the University of Oslo Library and holds a PhD in Library and Information Science. He is also temporarily in charge of the library's Academic Writing Centre. His areas of interest include information literacy, interdisciplinary scholarly communication, and practices. Currently, Eystein is involved in several initiatives and projects related to AI in higher education.

Heli Kautonen, Finnish Literature Society

Dr. Heli Kautonen is Library Director at the Finnish Literature Society. She is a member of the Executive Board of LIBER, the Association of European Research Libraries, and Chair of the LIBER Quarterly Editorial Board, the peer-reviewed Open Access journal of LIBER. Heli Kautonen’s formal education ranges from art and design to information technology. Her doctoral thesis from the Aalto University School of Science studied the strategic aspects of user-centered design (UCD) in the public digital services. Her current research interests focus on the adaption of new information and communication technologies, specifically Artificial Intelligence (AI), in the work processes and services of research libraries.

Hilde Westbye, University of Oslo

Hilde Westbye is Library Director of the Law Library, University of Oslo. She is Academic coordinator for Centre on experiential legal learning (CELL) at the Law Faculty, University of Oslo. She is a lawyer and also holds a degree in IT. She is currently working with projects on how artificial intelligence will affect education, research and libraries.

Vidar Rongved, Nord University

Vidar Rongved is senior advisor on Open Access at Nord University’s library. He has previously worked at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences where he was part of the library’s research support team. Vidar holds a PhD in German Linguistics from the University of Bergen.

Published

2023-09-15

How to Cite

Gasparini, A. A., Antunes Nogueira, L., Gullbekk, E., Kautonen, H., Westbye, H., & Rongved, V. . (2023). Hopping on the AI train? Ethical and practical considerations for the adoption of AI tools in research and higher education. Septentrio Conference Series, (1). Retrieved from https://septentrio.uit.no/index.php/SCS/article/view/7117