FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 26, 2025
Contact
Tim Pratt
timothy.pratt@maryland.gov
443-695-6772
Artificial Intelligence Experts to Speak at Maryland Libraries Together Event
TIME magazine included Arvind Narayanan and Sayash Kapoor in its list of 100 Most Influential People in Artificial Intelligence
(BALTIMORE) — Maryland Libraries Together and Baltimore County Public Library (BCPL) are set to host two of TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in Artificial Intelligence next week for a statewide virtual program that focuses on the possibilities and pitfalls of this emerging technology.
Computer scientists Arvind Narayanan and Sayash Kapoor will present “Understanding AI: What It Can and Cannot Do” at 12 p.m. on April 3. The program will be streamed on BCPL’s YouTube channel at https://bit.ly/AISnakeOil. No registration is required.
“With the use of Artificial Intelligence becoming more and more prevalent, it’s important for Marylanders to gain a better understanding of it and recognize all of the potential impacts and uses,” said Morgan Lehr Miller, Maryland State Librarian. “We’re proud that Maryland Libraries are working together to lead the way in helping people to navigate this major technological change in their daily lives.”
Narayanan and Kapoor are authors of AI Snake Oil: What Artificial Intelligence Can Do, What It Can’t, and How to Tell the Difference. In it, the authors cut through the confusion about AI to give readers an essential understanding of how it works and why it often doesn’t, where it might be useful or harmful, and when people should suspect that companies are using AI “hype” to sell products that don’t work. During the program on April 3, Narayanan and Kapoor will share what people need to know about AI and how to defend against bogus AI claims and products.
“As technology and digital literacy continue to advance, libraries are committed to providing the tools and knowledge necessary for continuous learning and self-development,” said Sonia Alcántara-Antoine, CEO of Baltimore County Public Library. “With artificial intelligence becoming integral to education, work and daily life, it is essential that we offer resources—through programs, workshops and hands-on learning—to help our communities understand and interact with AI responsibly. By hosting this program, we are helping build the digital literacy skills needed to navigate the future with confidence, adaptability and informed decision-making.”
Narayanan is a professor of computer science at Princeton University and the director of the Center for Information Technology Policy. He studies the societal impact of digital technologies, especially artificial intelligence, and has co-authored a textbook on fairness and machine learning. He led the Princeton Web Transparency and Accountability Project to uncover how companies collect and use our personal information. Narayanan’s work was among the first to show how machine learning reflects cultural stereotypes, and his doctoral research showed the fundamental limits of de-identification.
Kapoor is a computer science Ph.D. candidate at Princeton’s Center for Information Technology Policy whose research focuses on the societal impact of AI. He is a recipient of a best paper award and an impact recognition award from the Association for Computing Machinery.
This event is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) through the Library Services and Technology Act administered by the Maryland State Library Agency in partnership with Maryland Libraries Together.
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