Before I get into details, which I promise to do in later posts, I wanted to note my immediate thoughts.   

• Practical sessions on Generative AI were the most interesting. From “Leveraging GenAI for Competitive Intelligence” and “Embracing Innovation: Strategies for Assessing and Integrating Generative AI tools” to the many product showcases, the appetite to test and “break things” was palpable!  

• Gavin Sheridan of Vizlegal captured my attention immediately. You might wonder why “How to Start a Legal Tech Company” is relevant to law librarians, but it makes perfect sense! Information professionals already possess the qualities every entrepreneur needs – curiosity, excellent networks, and the ability to give honest feedback. Information professionals could also benefit from a sharper business mindset.  

• Holly Mottram’s session, “Words Matter: How Language Influences Research,” was a thoughtful reminder of how evolving language affects everything we do. Her emphasis on clarity, context, and the need to always provide alternative words and phrases was both timely and actionable.  

• Christina Blacklaws offered a powerful overview in her keynote, “AI & Bias: Ensuring Fairness in a Technological Age.” Her insights into systemic inequality and the risks of unchecked algorithms were sobering. While solutions such as regulation and human oversight were proposed, the urgency of the issue was unmistakable. The tech genie is out of the bottle, so what now?  

• Meanwhile, Margaret Watson’s whimsical yet profound “Never in a Rain of Pig’s Pudding” explored the ethical use of GenAI in academia. Her message: it is up to us – not machines – to shape the future of research and learning.  

• Finally, Matthew Leopold offered a magical crowd-pleasing exploration of trust and perception, reminding us that our brains are wired for survival, not reality. His point was simple but powerful: AI is only as trustworthy as the humans who create and interpret it. Thank you for using magic to spell this out!