Avoid AI Misinformation, Free Talk Thursday at RIPL

Learn How to Avoid AI Disinformation, Thursday, Oct. 3 at Rock Island Library: Artificial Intelligence, or AI, is fully embedded in social media and technology, making it hard to tell what is real and what is not. To help, the Rock Island Library will feature a talk by Librarian Atticus Garrison on "AI Apocalypse: A Survival Guide for Navigating Disinformation," Thursday, Oct. 3 at 6pm, at the Rock Island Watts-Midtown Branch, 2715 30^th Street.

In the free presentation, Black Hawk College's Atticus Garrison will demystify AI by explaining what it is, how it works, and how to identify it. Topics will include the mechanics of AI, the creation and impact of AI deep fakes, and the role of AI in spreading disinformation on social media and in the news. This session aims to equip you with the critical thinking and media literacy skills necessary to navigate the digital landscape with confidence.

Atticus Garrison is a Reference and Instruction Librarian at Black Hawk College, where he specializes in teaching source evaluation, research skills, and various literacies, including information, media, and digital. Beyond the classroom, Atticus is known for his talks on AI, presenting at a number of events and conferences such as the Information Literacy Summit, and the NILRC annual conference. He served as the Keynote Speaker for Highland Community College's Opening Days.

Says Garrison, "Whether its deep fake technology, or the number of Large Language Model Chatbots like ChatGPT, it can be hard to keep up with what's new in AI. On top of that, more and more of the content and users of social media are being run and created by A1. This can make it harder to tell what is real and what is a fabrication."

A proud local of Rock Island, IL, Atticus is an alumnus of Rock Island High School and Augustana College and earned his Master's degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

The talk will conclude with a Q&A session, providing an opportunity for attendees to ask questions. It is free and open to all.

For more information about library services and upcoming events for a wide range of ages, visit the library website, call 309-732-READ, or follow the Rock Island Library Facebook and Instagram social media sites.