Libby’s library app adds an AI discovery feature, and not everyone is thrilled

Libby, the popular library e-book and audiobook app, has introduced an AI-powered book discovery feature called "Inspire Me" that generates personalized reading recommendations based on user prompts and previously saved titles. The feature works within each library's digital collection and prioritizes immediately available books. However, the addition has sparked criticism from users and librarians who prefer human-curated recommendations over AI-generated ones, raising concerns about privacy and the role of artificial intelligence in library services. Overdrive, the company behind Libby, emphasizes that the feature is designed to complement rather than replace librarian expertise and has implemented privacy protections to address user concerns.