Libraries Are Filling Up With People Who Want to Avoid AI

What happened

Libraries across the country are drawing unusually large crowds for a new type of program: workshops focused on avoiding AI. According to TechCrunch, demand for these sessions has been described as unprecedented, drawing people who are fed up with Big Tech and looking for practical ways to reduce their exposure to AI-powered products and services.

The library setting matters. Public libraries serve a wide cross-section of the community — not only tech-aware users or activists, but general audiences including older adults and people who may not identify as tech-skeptical but want guidance navigating AI they didn't choose. The scale of demand suggests this is not a fringe reaction. It points to a segment of the general public that finds current AI deployment — in search results, in customer service, in software — unwelcome rather than helpful.

What it means for your business

A portion of your customer base likely shares this skepticism, even if they haven't attended a workshop. If you're deploying AI in customer-facing contexts — automated phone systems, chatbots, AI-drafted emails — some customers will notice and may quietly disengage. Offering a clear, easy path to human contact is good practice regardless, but this data makes it a more pressing consideration. When you introduce AI-assisted processes, being transparent with customers about where AI is involved tends to reduce friction compared to letting them discover it on their own. This isn't a reason to avoid AI in your business — it's a reason to deploy it with visible human backup.

Source: TechCrunch