Avoiding AI: Why Library Workshops are Trending

The surge in "Avoiding AI" workshops at local libraries points to a growing friction between Big Tech's aggressive deployment and actual user needs. It isn't just about Luddite resistance; it's a targeted push for digital sovereignty.

People are showing up in droves because the "AI-everything" approach is becoming intrusive. From search engines burying organic results under AI overviews to software suites forcing generative tools into every menu, the fatigue is real. These workshops essentially act as a practical tutorial for stripping back the noise.

The core focus for most attendees seems to be:

• Data Privacy: Learning how to opt-out of model training.
• Tool Selection: Finding "dumb" or traditional software that doesn't scrape user data.
• Verification: Developing workflows to verify information without relying on an LLM agent that might hallucinate.

It's an interesting counter-trend. While most of us are obsessed with the latest prompt engineering tricks, there is a significant segment of the population looking for a "clean" digital experience. This isn't about rejecting technology, but rather about intentional deployment—choosing when AI is actually useful and when it's just bloatware.