Library hosts Jan. 14 presentation for instructors on new AI research tool and funding
Michael Appleby, the lead developer of a new AI tool for doing research in the library’s digital collections, will offer an online demonstration of the tool’s beta version on Jan. 14 at 1 p.m. The opportunity is open to all Yale instructors. Register here.
The library seeks to partner with instructors to integrate the application into assignments and course activities. On Jan. 14, Appleby and Associate University Librarian Lauren DiMonte will review how the tool works, discuss opportunities for instructors to participate, and share how to access research assistant funding to support including the application in courses.
The application, with the working title “Digital Collections AI,” uses Large Language Models (LLMs) to rapidly “read,” summarize, and analyze digital texts—transcribed with Optical Character Recognition (OCR)—and then answer a set of questions about the content. LLMs are designed to mimic the human brain’s way of recognizing, interpreting, and learning from language patterns, but at exponentially higher rates of speed.
Appleby, director of software engineering in Library IT, began creating the tool as part of a conference presentation. Now he’s leading further development, working with materials from Yale Library Digital Collections, and seeking faculty and graduate students to partner in beta testing.
“We are envisioning that interested instructors might use the tool to support their students’ engagement with digitized special collections or to help students learn more about how LLMs work,” said Lauren Di Monte, associate university librarian for Research and Teaching. “The research assistant funding can be used to research digitized collections and support other integration work.”
Read more about the Digital Collections AI tool.
Register for the Jan. 14 presentation.
Visit the library’s webpage on Using AI in research.
Questions or comments? Contact lauren.dimonte@yale.edu.
—Patricia M. Carey
Composite image showing a screen from the Digital Collections AI tool applied to the digitized handwritten travel journal of Mrs. E. A. Kenah in the background. The journal is in the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.
