Doctoral students’ reflection on Generative AI

A librarian outlook

Abstract

This practice paper explores doctoral students’ perspectives on the use of generative AI and examines the role of librarians as mediators in this evolving field. Originating from a long-standing doctoral course on information literacy at the Biomedical Library, University of Gothenburg, the study integrates recent advancements in generative AI tools for summarizing and analyzing scientific articles. During the spring semester of 2024, students were introduced to these tools and tasked with incorporating them into their course assignments. This paper analyzes the reflections and insights from these assignments, in the context of their diverse backgrounds from various medical disciplines. The findings provide a nuanced understanding of the students’ views on generative AI and underscore the importance of librarians in facilitating the adoption of new technologies in academic research. The study concludes with reflections on the implications for future course content and the role of librarians in supporting research through technological advancements.