Dawn of the Machine Age? Near futures for libraries and higher education

In his third keynote for Electronic Resources & Libraries, Robert H. McDonald reflects on ideas and predictions from his previous ER&L keynotes in 2006 and 2015, examining what was realized, what was missed, and what has returned with renewed urgency. He situates today’s conversations about generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), and the emerging prospect of artificial general intelligence (AGI), within more than two decades of technological anticipation in libraries and higher education. Participants will gain insight into post‑GenAI landscapes in research libraries and higher education, including implications for student success, online learning, and the long‑term sustainability of library principles in an AI‑shaped future.

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