Libraries in many parts of the US are holding workshops where people are being taught how to turn off AI features like Apple Intelligence and Google Gemini.
Avoiding AI Workshops: It seems that people are now bored with AI, perhaps that is why they are now learning ways to avoid it. Although people come to libraries to read and learn, you will be surprised to know that now, in many parts of America, libraries are teaching people to ‘un-learn’ (i.e. forget or abandon the things they have learned). According to a report by TechCrunch, amid AI fatigue, libraries are hosting workshops where people are being taught how to turn off AI features like Apple Intelligence and Google Gemini.
Demand for ‘Avoid AI’ workshops in libraries is increasing
According to the report, Charlie Bailey, a librarian in South Philadelphia, recently held a workshop called “Avoiding AI”. Instead of teaching how to use AI chatbots, this workshop focused on how to turn off AI-powered features on computers, smartphones, and popular online services.
It is being told that in this one-hour session, it was explained how consumer AI tools work, why some people find them useful and why some people may prefer not to use them. After this, people were given information about ways to turn off AI features on their devices.
According to the report, Bailey came up with the idea when he noticed that many people felt that AI tools were being included in products without giving users much choice.
Users learning to turn off AI features
Similarly, a librarian at the Bangor Public Library in Maine created a similar program in response to frequently asked questions from visitors. People often asked him how to turn off AI features that automatically suggested emails, created message summaries, or appeared in everyday apps.
To address these concerns, Cyrus designed an educational session. It explained how AI worked before teaching people how to turn off features they didn’t want to use.
Some visitors believed that AI could also be useful in areas like healthcare and document digitization. The special thing is that they said that they want the freedom to decide when and where AI becomes a part of their digital experience.
For many, these workshops are less about rejecting AI and more about taking back control over the technology. As AI becomes more common in phones, computers, and online services, these library sessions have become a place where people can learn that deciding to turn off AI is a smart choice.
