Library Event Helps Users Disable AI Features on Phones

The North Chatham Free Library in upstate New York has unexpectedly emerged at the center of a grassroots movement for digital autonomy, following the viral spread of a flyer for its upcoming Bye Bye AI workshop. The event, organized by library director Shea Wert, offers patrons free assistance in disabling artificial intelligence features on smartphones and laptops, specifically targeting automated functions such as Gmail auto-completes and reply suggestions that many users find intrusive. Originally designed for the library's roughly 800 local cardholders, the initiative rapidly gained international attention after Wert shared the event poster on Facebook. The post accumulated over 8,000 likes and hundreds of comments from users across the United States and the United Kingdom, many requesting similar programming or digital resources. The overwhelming response underscores a growing public appetite for tools that allow users to reclaim control over their digital environments. Wert developed the workshop in direct response to consistent patron requests, particularly from older adults who expressed frustration over newly integrated AI features in services they have used for years. Drawing inspiration from librarian Hannah Cyrus, who recently published a peer-reviewed article demonstrating how libraries can actively facilitate technology rejection alongside adoption, Wert adapted Cyrus' curriculum for a local audience. Cyrus' approach, which has already drawn hundreds of inquiries from librarians worldwide, emphasizes digital literacy and user sovereignty rather than technological opposition. The North Chatham session will operate as a drop-in clinic, mirroring the library's existing weekly tech support hours. While Wert acknowledges she uses AI tools professionally for drafting and research, she maintains a personal preference for minimal technology, utilizing a basic mobile phone. Her stance reflects a broader industry shift toward user-centered tech education, where assistance is provided regardless of whether patrons seek to adopt or disable emerging tools. Previous programming at the library, including an April class on artificial intelligence fundamentals for seniors, established a foundation of trust that now supports this opt-out initiative. With expectations of moderate attendance despite the viral publicity, Wert remains cautiously prepared for the logistical demands of a drop-in format. The event highlights an evolving role for public libraries in the digital age, positioning them as neutral spaces where communities can navigate, question, and customize technological integration on their own terms. As demand for digital autonomy continues to rise, initiatives like the Bye Bye AI workshop signal a pragmatic response to the friction between rapid AI deployment and everyday user experience.