US Libraries Launch 'Avoiding AI' Workshops Amid Tech Fatigue

What happened?

Across the United States, public libraries are hosting workshops titled 'Avoiding AI' that have seen unprecedented demand. According to TechCrunch, attendees are motivated by fatigue with big tech and the feeling that artificial intelligence is being imposed without their consent. The workshops, which started as isolated initiatives in California and New York libraries, have spread to over 40 states within months, with waiting lists exceeding 200 people in cities like Austin, Texas, and Portland, Oregon. Librarians report that attendees are not just seeking information but a space to validate their discomfort with a technology they perceive as invasive.

Why is it important?

This movement is not anecdotal. It represents organized social resistance to the rapid adoption of AI, especially among non-technical communities. Libraries, traditionally spaces for digital literacy, are now becoming hubs of active resistance. The phenomenon could influence public policy and how companies deploy AI. For example, in San Francisco, the central library has reported a 300% increase in attendance at these workshops since January 2026, leading the city to consider an ordinance requiring companies to clearly label AI systems in public services. Nationally, the American Library Association (ALA) has created a task force to standardize these workshops, indicating the movement could become institutionalized.

Consequences and context

The rise of these workshops coincides with growing skepticism toward AI, fueled by mass layoffs, algorithmic biases, and privacy concerns. According to a 2025 Pew Research Center survey, 62% of Americans believe AI is being implemented too quickly without sufficient oversight, up from 48% in 2023. Unlike previous 'slow tech' or 'digital detox' movements, this one has a more political and community-oriented character. By offering these workshops, libraries legitimize the option of not using AI and provide tools to identify and avoid it. The workshops cover everything from detecting chatbots on websites to using browser extensions that block AI assistants, and creating resumes without the help of text generators. This practical approach has resonated particularly with middle-aged workers who fear being replaced by automation.

However, there are also criticisms: some see these workshops as a technophobic stance that ignores the potential benefits of AI in areas like healthcare or education. For instance, the American Medical Association has warned that avoiding AI in diagnostics could delay advances in early disease detection. Additionally, the phenomenon could exacerbate the digital divide if certain groups completely reject technology while others adopt it uncritically. Workshop organizers respond that they do not promote total rejection but informed choice, and that many attendees use AI at work but want to limit its presence in their personal lives.

The historical context is also relevant. This movement recalls the rise of digital privacy workshops after Snowden's revelations in 2013, when libraries became centers for learning to use Tor or encrypt emails. However, the current scale is larger: while those workshops attracted dozens of people, 'Avoiding AI' workshops are filling auditoriums with a capacity of 300. It also differs from the resistance to genetically modified foods in the 1990s, which was more individualistic; here, the action is collective and mediated by public institutions.

What readers should know

The 'Avoiding AI' workshops do not promote a return to analog, but informed choice. They teach how to detect AI interfaces, adjust privacy settings, and use free software alternatives. For companies, this is a warning sign: trust in AI is not universal, and resistance can be organized. Companies like OpenAI and Google have already seen drops in adoption of their tools among certain demographic segments, especially those over 45 and rural residents. For users, it is a reminder that technology is not neutral and that spaces exist to debate its impact. Additionally, the workshops are generating an unexpected side effect: increased demand for librarians specialized in tech ethics, a profession that was previously marginal.

“Libraries have become the new battleground for digital sovereignty,” notes the TechCrunch article.

Conclusions

The 'Avoiding AI' movement is a symptom of a society questioning the direction of technological change. Beyond positions for or against, its existence forces a rethink of how AI is introduced into daily life and who decides the terms of that integration. While it is unlikely to completely halt AI adoption, it is already influencing public discourse and local policies. The remaining question is whether this movement will evolve into stricter regulation or fizzle out as AI becomes invisible in everyday infrastructure. For now, libraries have shown that organized resistance can be an effective counterbalance to unchecked technological optimism.