Possible | Tony Marx on the future of libraries, AI, and trust

I’ve always loved libraries. As a kid growing up in the hills of Berkeley, California, I’d literally walk an hour to get to the nearest one—Berkeley Public Library (CA)'s North Branch. I’d stay there all day, pretty much in heaven with a whole range of books. 

When I think about the best educational technology of the last several centuries, I have long thought of books—and of how lucky Americans are to have access to them and other valuable sources of knowledge via vast networks of public and university libraries. 

I’d also argue that books' standing is changing, though; I now see AI—which, of course, builds upon books—as the best educational technology created in human history thus far. This means that, in certain ways, at least, libraries need to change, too.

As we navigate the opportunities and challenges that come with this transition, I’m looking to libraries—and their leaders—to help build a future where these longstanding civic institutions, which have been formative for so many, continue to serve as accessible, trustworthy sources of knowledge and community. Libraries also have a unique opportunity to educate people about AI, along with the risks it presents and the superpowers it can equip us with.

This brings us to the The New York Public Library, where Aria Finger and I recently sat down with NYPL President and CEO Tony Marx. We explored the evolving function of libraries, debated the future of work, and discussed the role of AI in content creation and curation, along with the importance of human oversight and fact-checking.

You can tune into the full conversation with Tony here: https://link.chtbl.com/vSkPsr8D

YouTube: https://youtu.be/7H3fEBL_YgY

Transcript: https://www.possible.fm/podcasts/marx/

You can subscribe to catch more episodes of Possible here: https://www.possible.fm/