Librarians Host Viral 'Avoiding AI' Workshops for People Fed Up With Big Tech
Librarians in the U.S. are running popular workshops teaching how to disable AI features on devices, responding to growing public frustration with forced AI integration.
Charlie Bailey, a librarian in South Philadelphia, created an "Avoiding AI" workshop after being inspired by a similar program from Hannah Cyrus, a librarian in Maine. Cyrus published a journal article about her workshop, which led to dozens of librarians contacting her. Her first workshop at the Bangor Public Library drew so much interest that registration was capped at 30, a waitlist was created, and a Zoom livestream added – totaling about 70 attendees.
Bailey's workshop, held in a children's library room, guides adults through disabling Apple Intelligence and Gemini on their devices. He explains how AI tools work, why people might use or avoid them. The library's Instagram post about the event received over 2,000 likes and 220 shares, far exceeding typical engagement.
Attendees express frustration with AI being forced into their daily tech use. One participant, Johnny, noted the difficulty of buying a home only to find a data center planned nearby. Another, Gabrielle, said AI is "shoved down my throat at work" but acknowledged its value in medical breakthroughs. Cyrus noted that people want more control and that forced AI adoption might be "the straw that's breaking the camel's back." Bailey sees the workshops as advancing digital literacy and helping people reclaim autonomy over technology.
