Zong-Xian Huang was surprised when the data showed that older adults and women were far less likely to join AI workshops at public libraries. At a time when artificial intelligence shapes everything from job applications to medical advice, public libraries in places like Albany are stepping up as quiet classrooms for digital survival. A new study from the University at Albany's Center for Technology in Government (CTG) reveals these local hubs are becoming vital spaces where people learn not just how to use AI, but how to question it.
The research, based on a January 2024 survey of 2,010 U.S. adults, shows that access to AI education is uneven. Adults aged 55 and older are 32.1 percentage points less likely to attend library AI programs than 18- to 34-year-olds. Women participate at 9.8 percentage points lower rates than men. People with college degrees and those earning over $100,000 a year are also more likely to join. These gaps matter because AI is no longer just a tech topic — it’s shaping public services, hiring, and even democracy.
Yet one hopeful finding stands out: people who have specific concerns about AI — like privacy risks or whether their voices will be heard — are more likely to show up. The researchers call them "constructively skeptical." They don’t fear AI blindly; they want to understand it. As Mila Gascó-Hernandez, CTG research director, puts it, "AI literacy is about more than knowing how to use these tools. People also need to understand their limitations, think critically about the information they produce and recognize issues involving accuracy, privacy and bias."
Interestingly, nonwhite participants were 10.4 percentage points more likely to join AI programs than white respondents — a result the team says deserves deeper exploration. While libraries aim to be inclusive, the data suggests they still face challenges in reaching older adults, women, and lower-income communities. That’s a concern, because if only some groups learn to navigate AI, only some voices will shape how it’s used in society.
Libraries, long trusted as neutral, community-centered spaces, may hold the key to closing this gap. They offer free access, patient guidance, and a place to ask questions without judgment. As AI becomes more powerful, the need for public understanding grows. Libraries aren’t just lending books anymore — they’re helping people think clearly in a world full of algorithms. The next step, researchers say, is making sure everyone knows the door is open.