Mireille Radoi, general director of the 'Carol I' Central University Library in Bucharest (BCU), advocated for integrating artificial intelligence into institutional operational flows, bringing to mind that the institution she leads took pioneering steps among Romanian libraries by using AI as early as September 2022.

Mireille Radoi participated on Thursday and Friday in the 18th edition of the 'Slove Muscelene / Muscel Pennings' International Conference, a prestigious event held in Campulung Muscel, themed 'The Library, precursor of Artificial Intelligence', the BCU said on Friday in a release.

In her remarks, the BCU director emphasized that it is essential for institutions to recalibrate their services for the new stage of human knowledge in which AI has become an integral part.

'Artificial intelligence is a strategic instrument for development, but its use requires discernment and responsibility. Consequently, technology is meant to enhance human expertise through a relationship of complementarity, a paradigm in which people and artificial intelligence will build together. It is important to develop a European AI model that ensures the continent's digital sovereignty while protecting its cultural identity,' Radoi said.

At a time when artificial intelligence was only beginning to gain popularity, the Central University Library of Bucharest used AI to generate illustrations for the its De Spiritu et Anima quarterly magazine. Today, through OpenAI technology, the library has simplified the management of digital resources for users and streamlined cataloguing and administrative processes for librarians. To build new competencies, the BCU management is analysing the AI+ Library programme developed by the Straits Institute for Applied AI, considered the world's most extensive applied-AI curriculum. Under the motto 'Applied AI is Useful AI', this educational ecosystem offers solutions for universities and governments, covering 166 professions and 96 transferable skills, demonstrating that technology must be a multiplier of human expertise.

'Libraries have always been institutions that organise and make knowledge accessible. Today, in a world where artificial intelligence changes the way we produce, access and interpret information, this mission gains a new dimension. I do not believe the future belongs to a competition between humans and technology, but to a collaboration in which artificial intelligence complements human expertise without replacing it. At the 'Carol I' Central University Library we chose to see this transformation as an opportunity for development and, from the early years of these technologies, we integrated AI-based solutions into our daily activity,' Mireille Radoi said.

Plenary lectures and communication sessions at the event brought together prominent representatives of the academic, cultural and diplomatic spheres, including Acad. Florin Filip of the Romanian Academy; Elena Pintilei, director general of the National Library of the Republic of Moldova; Carmen Mihaiu, director of the National Library of Romania; as well as managers of county libraries. The debates also included Prof. Razvan Rughinis of the Bucharest Politehnica University and Acad. Mihai Badescu, along with international guests such as Enkeleda Baduni Merkuri, Albania's ambassador to Romania.

Beyond the technological theme, the two-day conference agenda included a round table titled 'Women - guarantors of education, science, culture and diplomacy', attended by prominent representatives of the public and legal spheres, the release said. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Daniel Popescu; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)