US librarians lead surge in 'Avoiding AI' workshops amid Big Tech backlash

Librarians across the United States are hosting workshops designed to teach attendees how to disable artificial intelligence features on their devices, responding to growing public frustration with the forced integration of AI tools by major technology firms. The initiative, which frames digital literacy as a means to reclaim user autonomy, has generated unprecedented demand, with libraries in South Philadelphia and Bangor, Maine, cutting off registration and opening waitlists due to high attendance.

Charlie Bailey, a librarian in South Philadelphia, leads an hour-long session that begins with an overview of AI chatbots and consumer tools before providing step-by-step instructions on turning off specific features such as Apple Intelligence and Google Gemini. Bailey, who was inspired by Hannah Cyrus, a librarian in Maine, described the effort as advancing digital literacy in an environment where design often forces adoption. He noted that the reception has been significant, with his library’s Instagram post for the event receiving over 2,000 likes and 220 shares, a stark contrast to the few dozen likes typical for library posts.

Cyrus, who hosts sessions at Bangor Public Library, reported that patrons increasingly sought help with disabling features like email summarisation and auto-completion. Her standard "Intro to Computers" classes usually attract about a dozen attendees, but interest in her "Avoiding AI" workshops was so high that she had to cap in-person registration at 30 people and include a Zoom livestream, bringing total attendance to approximately 70 per session. Cyrus stated that the workshops aim to teach the basics of the technology and provide practical methods for opting out, addressing the feeling that unwanted AI tools are suddenly everywhere.

The movement is characterised not as a total rejection of technology, but as an advocacy for greater control and agency. Participants have shared specific tips, such as appending “&udm=14” to Google Search queries to hide AI-generated results. While attendees expressed concerns about environmental impacts, workplace pressure to use AI, and the potential for data centres near residential areas, many acknowledged the technology's utility in specific fields, including medical breakthroughs and optical character recognition for scanning documents.

Bailey and Cyrus view the trend as a response to the outsized influence of technology companies and the lack of consent in how AI is integrated into daily life. Bailey, who scheduled a second program in Philadelphia after the first filled up, said it felt good to see people skeptical of AI and sharing these concerns. The workshops highlight a growing desire among users to manage their digital interactions on their own terms, rather than accepting automated features as inevitable.