Public libraries have quietly become a refuge for people who want less artificial intelligence in their lives, not more.
According to TechCrunch, librarians at libraries around the country have begun hosting workshops with a straightforward premise: how to avoid AI. The sessions, billed under names like "Avoiding AI," are aimed at people who say they are fed up with Big Tech.
TechCrunch reports that these workshops have drawn what it describes as unprecedented demand, with interest strong enough that the classes have gone viral. In other words, the appetite for stepping back from AI tools appears to be outpacing what organizers expected.
The trend is notable because it inverts the dominant story in technology right now. Much of the industry, and much of the coverage around it, has focused on getting AI features into as many products and daily routines as possible. These library sessions point in the opposite direction: a segment of the public is actively looking for guidance on how to use technology while keeping AI at arm's length.
It is also telling that libraries, rather than tech companies, have become the venue. Long a free, neutral resource for learning practical skills, libraries are positioning themselves as a trusted place to navigate a landscape many people find overwhelming or intrusive.
The TechCrunch item does not detail exactly what the workshops teach or how many people have attended, so the specifics of the curriculum remain unclear from the source. What is clear is the direction of the demand.
Why it matters: The rush to these workshops is an early, tangible sign that a meaningful number of consumers want the option to opt out of AI, a form of pushback that companies betting everything on AI adoption may not be able to ignore.