Libbi’s library app adds an AI Discovery feature, and not everyone is thrilled

Library e-book and audibook app Libbi AI is adding a lot to disappoint Some? Readers And BookWho would not like to put AI in his favorite apps. The new feature, “Inspire Mi”, allows users to obtain the recommendations of the book using signals or from the title rescued in libbies.

To use the feature, readers tap on the “Inspire Mi” options on the home page of the libbi, where they can ask for narrative or nonfiction, then narrow the tips by other factors, such as age limit, type of material, and more. For example, you can tap on suggestions such as “spine-tingling” or “entertaining”, then on special scenarios, such as “dark humor about modern family’s dysfunction” or “time passenger protects the dragon from medieval knights.”

The app will then display five relevant titles that match the requested inspiration.

Overdrive, the company which creates the Libbi app, says that this feature depends on the digital collection of each library, so it will point to the books of the library offering. It also preference titles that are available for borrowing immediately.

While the case of a fairly basic use for AI, some libbies are pushing back through user and librarian posts. Social Media The sites say that they would like to receive the book recommendations without the use of AI technology. Others are concerned about potential privacy issues that come up with some AI experiences.

Overdrive, however, clarifies in one Policy Documents about Libbi’s use of AI It avoids collecting “unqualified personal information”, and when it uses your personal information, it is not shared with the third party or artificial intelligence model. The company also says that users’ details and activity have not been shared with the AI ​​model.

In addition, if you share one of your saved tags with AI to receive suggestions, it does not get any details about your, your device, or your tag name or details – it only receives the title to use for recommendations.

Perhaps expecting some pushbacks against the new addition, overdrive insisted in its declaration that its goal was not to replace “human insight” with a general AI feature. Rather, it states that this feature can be used to “complement” the librarian -led discovery.

Overdrive Chief Marketing Officer, Jane Latman said, “Inspire uses AI integration responsible to help the mentor to dive deep into the incredible catalogs.” statementHe said, “By surfaceing the titles who are searching for readers, help me to inspire me, help me to search for more books of books that their libraries have already invested. It is not about changing human insight, it is easy to make the discovery, smart and more intuitive,” he said.

The company launched the feature soft-launching First This month, users are allowed to discover “#INSPIREME” in Libbi’s app to get access. Now officially Announced And rolling out, all libi users should expect to have access to the feature in September.