TechCrunch: “Librarians are Hosting Viral ‘Avoiding AI’ Workshops For People Who are Fed Up With Big Tech”

From TechCrunch:

[Charlie] Bailey [a librarian in South Philadelphia, PA] stands at the front of a library classroom that’s outfitted for children – the focal point is the vibrant rug he’s standing on, which reminds us that M is for “moon” and Z is for “zebra.” But the 20-odd adults in the room aren’t here to learn about the alphabet. They’re at a workshop called Avoiding AI, which, in this context does not stand for “apple” and “igloo.”

“I was inspired by the feeling of people’s frustration with AI tools being kind of forced onto them, and feeling like AI tools we didn’t ask for are suddenly everywhere in our lives,” Bailey told TechCrunch.

Bailey starts the hour-long workshop with an overview of how AI chatbots and other consumer AI tools work, explaining why people might want to use these products, and why they might opt to abstain. Then, he walks through all of the most popular tech platforms and devices, showing step-by-step instructions on the projector to guide people through turning off specific features.

“As a librarian, I think it’s important to see this as advancing digital literacy and helping people reclaim their autonomy over whether they want to use AI tools,” Bailey said. “It’s important, especially when it can be so difficult not to use them, and when the design seems to force adoption.”

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See Also: Video: Bangor Public Library Helps Mainers Understand AI, Misinformation, and Digital Choices (via NewsCenter Maine; July 8, 2026)

See Also: These MaineLibrarians Are Helping Patrons Resist AI and Big Tech via Bangor Daily News; July 2, 2026) 

Filed under: Libraries, News, Patrons and Users, Public Libraries