Key Takeaways
- The Free Library of Philadelphia’s “Avoiding AI: A Hands‑on Workshop” teaches residents how to disable unwanted AI features in devices and apps while safeguarding privacy.
- Librarian Charlie Bailey emphasizes that understanding how to opt out of AI is as crucial as learning how to use it, given the pervasive, often involuntary, integration of AI into everyday technology.
- Partnering with the Library Freedom Project, the workshop series aims to build critical AI literacy by explaining technical fundamentals, revealing AI’s limitations, and connecting participants with community‑organizing resources.
- Alison Macrina, founder of the Library Freedom Project, notes that AI‑generated content is creating confusion about truthfulness, positioning librarians as vital guides for patrons navigating misinformation.
- The initiative reflects libraries’ evolving role: from traditional information hubs to active educators on the social, environmental, and civic implications of emerging technologies.
Workshop Overview and Motivation
On a rainy Tuesday afternoon, the South Philadelphia branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia filled with curious residents eager to regain control over their digital experiences. The session, titled “Avoiding AI: A Hands‑on Workshop,” marked the second installment of the library’s Critical AI Literacy series. Charlie Bailey, a librarian at the South Philadelphia Library, opened the event by noting a growing frustration among patrons: “With AI specifically, it feels like it’s everywhere all at once in places … and it’s not something that people are enabling or or actively turning on.” Bailey’s observation captures a common sentiment—that AI features are being baked into operating systems, search engines, and mobile apps without explicit user consent, often altering familiar interfaces in ways that feel intrusive.
Why Opting Out Matters
Bailey stressed that learning to disengage from AI is not merely a technical curiosity but a necessary skill for protecting personal autonomy. “He said that understanding how to avoid AI is becoming just as important as learning how to use it,” the workshop materials quoted him as saying. This perspective reframes AI literacy from a purely competency‑based model to one that includes critical awareness of when and how to disengage. By teaching participants how to toggle off AI‑driven suggestions, disable voice assistants, or limit data‑sharing permissions, the workshop empowers users to reclaim agency over their devices and the data they generate.
Partnership with the Library Freedom Project
To deepen the impact of the series, Bailey partnered with the Library Freedom Project (LFP), an organization dedicated to advancing privacy, intellectual freedom, and digital rights within library communities. Alison Macrina, LFP’s founder, highlighted the unique challenges AI poses for library workers: “[AI] is causing really fascinating issues for library workers,” she said. “I think that library workers are seeing a lot of confusion about what is real and what libraries can help them find.” The collaboration brings LFP’s expertise in surveillance resistance and digital literacy to Philadelphia’s neighborhoods, ensuring that the workshop content is grounded in both technical accuracy and ethical considerations.
Breaking Down the Technology
Rather than treating AI as an abstract buzzword, the workshop adopts a hands‑on approach that demystifies the underlying mechanics. Macrina explained the pedagogical goal: “[We’re] trying to break down what are the actual technical capabilities of the tools that you are using,” she said. Participants learn to distinguish between generative models that create text or images and recommendation algorithms that curate content feeds. By mapping out what each tool can and cannot do, attendees gain a clearer picture of where AI genuinely adds value and where it merely serves as a opaque layer that obscures user intent.
Practical Skills Taught
The session walked attendees through concrete steps for disabling AI features across popular platforms. For Windows and macOS, Bailey demonstrated how to turn off Cortana and Siri, respectively, and how to adjust privacy settings that limit data collection for personalized ads. On mobile devices, participants learned to revoke app permissions that enable background AI processing, such as facial recognition in photo galleries or predictive text keyboards that learn from typing habits. The workshop also covered browser‑level adjustments, including disabling Google’s AI‑powered search suggestions and opting out of Microsoft’s Bing AI chat integration. Each demonstration was paired with a discussion of the trade‑offs involved—for instance, turning off voice assistants may reduce convenience but enhances privacy by preventing continuous audio listening.
Connecting Technical Knowledge to Community Action
Beyond individual device management, the workshop encouraged participants to think collectively about AI’s societal impact. Bailey and Macrina facilitated a conversation about how widespread AI deployment influences labor markets, energy consumption, and democratic discourse. Attendees were invited to join local advocacy groups that monitor municipal AI procurement policies or to contribute to community‑led data trusts that govern how neighborhood information is used. By linking technical know‑how with civic engagement, the Critical AI Literacy series aims to transform passive consumers of technology into informed citizens capable of shaping AI’s trajectory in Philadelphia and beyond.
Libraries as Frontline Educators
The initiative underscores a broader shift in the role of public libraries: from repositories of books to active educators on emerging technologies. As AI becomes embedded in everyday tools, librarians like Bailey are positioned to help patrons navigate both the opportunities and the pitfalls. The workshop’s success—measured by attendee feedback indicating increased confidence in managing AI settings—suggests that libraries can effectively fill the gap left by rapid tech deployment, offering a trusted, neutral space for critical inquiry.
Looking Ahead
Plans are already underway for subsequent workshops in the Critical AI Literacy series, which will explore topics such as algorithmic bias, the environmental footprint of large‑scale AI models, and strategies for advocating for transparent AI governance in public institutions. By continually adapting its programming to reflect the evolving digital landscape, the Free Library of Philadelphia reaffirms its commitment to empowering residents with the knowledge and tools necessary to thrive in an AI‑infused world—while retaining the ability to say “no” when those technologies overstep personal boundaries.
Free Library of Philadelphia expands Critical AI Literacy series with hands-on workshop