AI, Beyond the Hype: A Down-to-Earth Exploration of Useful AI
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Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a promising, powerful technology that is quickly being woven into our daily lives, whether we know it or not. The amount of hype and misconception around it is causing some problems that are worth exploring. AI is being used in ways that are innovative and restorative but also in ways that are destructive, actively and passively. So, what should we make of all this?
Join us for a down-to-earth talk, brought to you by Friends of West Pearland Library and Rice University’s Fondren Library, on moving past the AI hype and towards an understanding of what is behind this technology and ways that we can benefit from it, responsibly and confidently. How can we make AI more useful? Why are libraries an important force in the adoption of AI in education? How can we center human intelligence and creativity while adopting AI in our work? We look forward to exploring these questions and more with you.
(Written entirely by a human)
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📚 About our speaker 📚
Jerrell Jones is a librarian, digitization specialist, professional photographer, and fine artist. With 14 years of academic library service focused primarily on digital collections creation and management, alongside experience in the oil and gas sector and mental health rehabilitation, he builds and supports sustainable partnerships within and outside of academia. Recently, Jerrell stepped into the role of Project Manager for Research Data and AI at Rice University’s Fondren Library, expanding faculty and student support for digital projects involving AI and data analysis. This follows his tenure as Rice's Digital Initiatives Coordinator, a role that encompassed digital project facilitation, digital repository management, and university-wide training and guidance. Jones also managed the Digitization Lab at the University of Houston Libraries. He is invested in grounding his technical expertise in a deep commitment to modern workplace advocacy, particularly cultivating psychologically safe environments, effective leadership advocacy, and human-centered decision-making. His broader professional interests include digital community archiving, digital preservation knowledge accessibility, equitable access to digital repositories, and mental health advocacy.
Join us for a down-to-earth talk, brought to you by Friends of West Pearland Library and Rice University’s Fondren Library, on moving past the AI hype and towards an understanding of what is behind this technology and ways that we can benefit from it, responsibly and confidently. How can we make AI more useful? Why are libraries an important force in the adoption of AI in education? How can we center human intelligence and creativity while adopting AI in our work? We look forward to exploring these questions and more with you.
(Written entirely by a human)
--------------------
📚 About our speaker 📚
Jerrell Jones is a librarian, digitization specialist, professional photographer, and fine artist. With 14 years of academic library service focused primarily on digital collections creation and management, alongside experience in the oil and gas sector and mental health rehabilitation, he builds and supports sustainable partnerships within and outside of academia. Recently, Jerrell stepped into the role of Project Manager for Research Data and AI at Rice University’s Fondren Library, expanding faculty and student support for digital projects involving AI and data analysis. This follows his tenure as Rice's Digital Initiatives Coordinator, a role that encompassed digital project facilitation, digital repository management, and university-wide training and guidance. Jones also managed the Digitization Lab at the University of Houston Libraries. He is invested in grounding his technical expertise in a deep commitment to modern workplace advocacy, particularly cultivating psychologically safe environments, effective leadership advocacy, and human-centered decision-making. His broader professional interests include digital community archiving, digital preservation knowledge accessibility, equitable access to digital repositories, and mental health advocacy.
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Where is it happening?
West Pearland Library, 11801 Shadow Creek Pkwy,Pearland, Texas, United States
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.
Host or PublisherFriends of West Pearland Library
