Librarians report unprecedented demand for workshops teaching people how to disable AI features on consumer devices

Two librarians—Hannah Cyrus in Bangor, Maine, and Charlie Bailey in South Philadelphia—reported unprecedented demand for workshops titled “Avoiding AI,” which teach attendees how to disable AI features on consumer devices. Cyrus, a librarian at the Bangor Public Library, said her typical “Intro to Computers” classes draw about a dozen attendees, but her first two “Avoiding AI” workshops required waitlists, Zoom livestreams, and registrations capped at 30 people due to overwhelming interest. Bailey, who runs a workshop in Philadelphia, said his library’s Instagram post for the event received over 2,000 likes and 220 shares, far exceeding the library’s usual engagement.

Cyrus said she developed the workshop after patrons repeatedly asked how to turn off AI features, such as email summarization tools, and why AI tools were being forced into products. She described the workshops as an opportunity to teach people about the basics of AI technology and how to disable it if desired. Bailey framed the workshops as advancing digital literacy and helping people reclaim autonomy over whether to use AI tools, noting the difficulty of opting out when design choices seem to force adoption.

During the workshops, attendees shared practical tips for avoiding AI features. One participant explained that appending “&udm=14” to a Google Search URL hides AI-generated results. Bailey also demonstrated how to disable features like Apple Intelligence and Gemini on devices. Attendees described frustration with AI being “shoved down their throats” at work and concerns about environmental impacts, though some acknowledged AI’s potential benefits in areas like medical breakthroughs.

Both librarians emphasized that the movement is not about rejecting technology outright but about advocating for user control and agency. Cyrus noted that while AI tools like optical character recognition are useful in libraries, the workshops focus on addressing the frustration with forced adoption of AI features in consumer products.