As we move past the hype (and perhaps the fears) regarding generative AI, we believe that implications and best practices for using AI in information literacy and literature searching are becoming clearer. This presentation provides overviews and case studies of how three academic librarians are navigating AI in research and library instruction via their research projects, classes, and liaison work. This talk should be useful for any library worker involved in information literacy, research consultations, and scholarly communication. The speakers will leave time to engage the audience, inviting them to offer their own lessons learned and best practices, as well as ask questions and even provide pushback. Our topics will include an overview of Scite.AI, Litmaps, and other scholarly literature products; use of general LLMs like ChatGPT in research and the classroom; an overview of vendor AIs including ProQuest, Scopus, and Statista; and a comparison of an AI-integrated research process to a more traditional research process. We will share our lessons learned, best practices, recommendations, and concerns for any librarian using these tools with their patrons and students. Ophelia has been conducting an IRB-approved research study of undergraduate and graduate students' experience of using AI for scholarly literature searching. Morgan is working with graduate students in a client consulting project to utilize AI in information discovery, analysis, and strategy. Steve has his entrepreneurship research students explore using AI for data discovery, and is now an administrator and trainer of a Scite.AI subscription for his business school. All three of us also have our students engage with the ethical aspects of generative AI. Questions we have been exploring include: What is the impact on students' research abilities in finding, analyzing, and synthesizing information? Do AI tools complement or replace library databases? How do the tools facilitate literature reviews, including evidence synthesis? How do students perceive the value and reliability of AI tools? How are students responding to librarian-led instruction on AI tools, and how does the instruction shape their approach to research and information evaluation? Are scholarly AI tools worth the money? Can they replace Google Scholar? Or Scopus and Web of Science?
