Jane Schmidt
@janeschmidt.bsky.social
I'm on Team Cat, but I play for Team Dog occasionally. Librarian at TMU.
Politicians will not save us.
Politicians will not save us.
Reposted by Jane Schmidt
New awareness campaign
November 3, 2025 at 3:23 PM
New awareness campaign
Forever grateful to work w/ an org like Prison Library Support Network that makes our decisions collectively, and makes sure they are grounded in our values. Hence, we decided that our AI policy for volunteers was gonna be a big ol' NOPE. We noped all the way out. docs.google.com/document/d/1...
PLSN AI Statement + Best Practices (October 2025)
PART I: AI Statement PLSN realizes that generative AI, in the form of large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, may feel routine or even necessary for many tasks requiring internet searches. Neverthe...
docs.google.com
November 3, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Forever grateful to work w/ an org like Prison Library Support Network that makes our decisions collectively, and makes sure they are grounded in our values. Hence, we decided that our AI policy for volunteers was gonna be a big ol' NOPE. We noped all the way out. docs.google.com/document/d/1...
I've been working on content related to citation justice and systemic issues with peer review. The whiplash that has just presented itself with this nonsense is truly mind-boggling.
October 29, 2025 at 3:00 PM
I've been working on content related to citation justice and systemic issues with peer review. The whiplash that has just presented itself with this nonsense is truly mind-boggling.
This is a real comment that I just read:
"As it stands, social justice itself is contested (not the principle, but the implemen-tation), and until that gets sorted out, I think science and scientists are better off without it."
What a time to be alive.
hxstem.substack.com/p/why-i-no-l...
"As it stands, social justice itself is contested (not the principle, but the implemen-tation), and until that gets sorted out, I think science and scientists are better off without it."
What a time to be alive.
hxstem.substack.com/p/why-i-no-l...
Why I no longer engage with Nature publishing group
My response to a recent invitation to review a manuscript for Nature Communications
hxstem.substack.com
October 29, 2025 at 2:57 PM
This is a real comment that I just read:
"As it stands, social justice itself is contested (not the principle, but the implemen-tation), and until that gets sorted out, I think science and scientists are better off without it."
What a time to be alive.
hxstem.substack.com/p/why-i-no-l...
"As it stands, social justice itself is contested (not the principle, but the implemen-tation), and until that gets sorted out, I think science and scientists are better off without it."
What a time to be alive.
hxstem.substack.com/p/why-i-no-l...
Reposted by Jane Schmidt
In retrospect, I think it was a bad idea to take the meanest, dumbest, and most selfish person and also make them the most powerful person.
September 25, 2025 at 11:23 PM
In retrospect, I think it was a bad idea to take the meanest, dumbest, and most selfish person and also make them the most powerful person.
Reposted by Jane Schmidt
“The biggest US-listed companies keep talking about artificial intelligence. But other than the ‘fear of missing out,’ few appear to be able to describe how the technology is changing their businesses for the better.”
America’s top companies keep talking about AI — but can’t explain the upsides
FT analysis of hundreds of filings suggest the S&P 500 businesses are clearer about the risks than benefits
www.ft.com
September 23, 2025 at 11:47 AM
“The biggest US-listed companies keep talking about artificial intelligence. But other than the ‘fear of missing out,’ few appear to be able to describe how the technology is changing their businesses for the better.”
Adolescent boys/young men are in the media a lot these days for awful reasons.
But I just overheard the best conversation between three 18/19 yo boys talking about who would win in a fight between a grizzly bear, a titan and a dolphin … and the fight is in the water.
Amazing.
But I just overheard the best conversation between three 18/19 yo boys talking about who would win in a fight between a grizzly bear, a titan and a dolphin … and the fight is in the water.
Amazing.
September 16, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Adolescent boys/young men are in the media a lot these days for awful reasons.
But I just overheard the best conversation between three 18/19 yo boys talking about who would win in a fight between a grizzly bear, a titan and a dolphin … and the fight is in the water.
Amazing.
But I just overheard the best conversation between three 18/19 yo boys talking about who would win in a fight between a grizzly bear, a titan and a dolphin … and the fight is in the water.
Amazing.
Once upon a time, it was fashionable to rip the shit out of QR codes.
Today, I just created TWO of them for a class I’m teaching this afternoon.
Life comes at you fast. 🙃
Today, I just created TWO of them for a class I’m teaching this afternoon.
Life comes at you fast. 🙃
September 12, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Once upon a time, it was fashionable to rip the shit out of QR codes.
Today, I just created TWO of them for a class I’m teaching this afternoon.
Life comes at you fast. 🙃
Today, I just created TWO of them for a class I’m teaching this afternoon.
Life comes at you fast. 🙃
Reposted by Jane Schmidt
Very cool that the province’s new roadmap for education was written using generative AI. Really inspires confidence 🫠
N.L.'s 10-year education action plan cites sources that don't exist | CBC News
A major report on modernizing the education system in Newfoundland and Labrador is peppered with fake sources some educators say were likely fabricated by generative artificial intelligence.
www.cbc.ca
September 12, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Very cool that the province’s new roadmap for education was written using generative AI. Really inspires confidence 🫠
Millions and millions of cats!
we are in conversation with our patrons about improving library services.
September 4, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Millions and millions of cats!
Reposted by Jane Schmidt
professional activists and institutional intellectuals be like:
August 13, 2025 at 1:35 PM
professional activists and institutional intellectuals be like:
The argument that critics of GenAI are just in a moral panic, and that this is just the new calculator, Wikipedia, etc just sort of falls apart when you see stories about the bots as sycophantic therapists and caregivers in LTC homes, no?? Just me?
August 6, 2025 at 5:00 PM
The argument that critics of GenAI are just in a moral panic, and that this is just the new calculator, Wikipedia, etc just sort of falls apart when you see stories about the bots as sycophantic therapists and caregivers in LTC homes, no?? Just me?
This is the same trap that non-profits fall into: they have to spend resources "telling their story" in order to maintain grant funding or raise funds, which diverts $ from the people/situation they are trying to help. It's a vicious cycle.
It is not realistic or sustainable for every single government program to constantly promote itself to the public. The clear villain in the DOGE immiseration campaign is the right. We don't need to play into their attacks by implying that we deserve it.
June 30, 2025 at 5:05 PM
This is the same trap that non-profits fall into: they have to spend resources "telling their story" in order to maintain grant funding or raise funds, which diverts $ from the people/situation they are trying to help. It's a vicious cycle.
“I used to think, but now I know.” @prisonculture.bsky.social on continuous learning.
June 12, 2025 at 7:04 PM
“I used to think, but now I know.” @prisonculture.bsky.social on continuous learning.
Whenever I hear people say they are using GenAI all the time in their personal life, I’m just baffled. Maybe I lack imagination (or just am truly a Luddite) but I’ve never once felt the impulse to use it.
June 11, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Whenever I hear people say they are using GenAI all the time in their personal life, I’m just baffled. Maybe I lack imagination (or just am truly a Luddite) but I’ve never once felt the impulse to use it.
Reposted by Jane Schmidt
"The findings were striking. Only 31 per cent of ChatGPT’s responses were deemed entirely correct, and just 34 per cent were considered clear. 'So, not that high,' said Troy Zada, a PhD student at the University of Waterloo who led the research team."
Researchers urge caution when using ChatGPT to self-diagnose illnesses
As Canadians increasingly turn to artificial intelligence for quick answers about health problems, a new study warns relying on tools like ChatGPT for self-diagnosis could be risky.
www.ctvnews.ca
May 31, 2025 at 3:32 PM
"The findings were striking. Only 31 per cent of ChatGPT’s responses were deemed entirely correct, and just 34 per cent were considered clear. 'So, not that high,' said Troy Zada, a PhD student at the University of Waterloo who led the research team."
Reposted by Jane Schmidt
In this article I argue treating LLMs like experts or authors or friends instead of as a conduit to access the insights of nameable others is a mistake, both in terms of dangers and lost opportunities www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
AI Is Not Your Friend
How the “opinionated” chatbots destroyed AI’s potential, and how we can fix it
www.theatlantic.com
May 9, 2025 at 1:08 PM
In this article I argue treating LLMs like experts or authors or friends instead of as a conduit to access the insights of nameable others is a mistake, both in terms of dangers and lost opportunities www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
Jesus wept.
May 8, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Jesus wept.
Reposted by Jane Schmidt
Sign at the Toronto Marathon today.
May 4, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Sign at the Toronto Marathon today.
Reposted by Jane Schmidt
you don't need chatGPT i am perfectly capable of drinking a bottle of water and lying to you
May 1, 2025 at 2:37 PM
you don't need chatGPT i am perfectly capable of drinking a bottle of water and lying to you
Yesterday I was at an all day IFLA event at York U. A librarian from Norway, Mariann Schjeide, who was there repping FAIFE and facilitating a panel unwittingly absolutely DESTROYED the notion of libraries as neutral institutions in the blink of an eye. I actually squealed with glee. 10/10 no notes.
May 2, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Yesterday I was at an all day IFLA event at York U. A librarian from Norway, Mariann Schjeide, who was there repping FAIFE and facilitating a panel unwittingly absolutely DESTROYED the notion of libraries as neutral institutions in the blink of an eye. I actually squealed with glee. 10/10 no notes.
Reposted by Jane Schmidt
Genuinely unbelievable how blatant the ongoing trans rights scandal is in the UK
May 1, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Genuinely unbelievable how blatant the ongoing trans rights scandal is in the UK
MPOW is rolling out Gemini on our campus. I just tried it out with a prompt fairly representative of a typical essay assigned to one of my departments.
On the bright side, it did a TERRIBLE job.
On the down side, it did a TERRIBLE job and students will still use it.
On the bright side, it did a TERRIBLE job.
On the down side, it did a TERRIBLE job and students will still use it.
April 30, 2025 at 9:45 PM
MPOW is rolling out Gemini on our campus. I just tried it out with a prompt fairly representative of a typical essay assigned to one of my departments.
On the bright side, it did a TERRIBLE job.
On the down side, it did a TERRIBLE job and students will still use it.
On the bright side, it did a TERRIBLE job.
On the down side, it did a TERRIBLE job and students will still use it.
Reposted by Jane Schmidt
In the authoritarian year of 2025, I desperately want adults to be okay with me or anyone else not enjoying something that they enjoy.
Amen.
Amen.
April 13, 2025 at 3:49 PM
In the authoritarian year of 2025, I desperately want adults to be okay with me or anyone else not enjoying something that they enjoy.
Amen.
Amen.
A theme that I brought home from ACRL was to focus on relationships and community right now; to celebrate the smaller moments. I just had a research consult w/ a student and her face lit up as we found articles relevant to her topic. Her smile had wattage! We stopped for a moment to enjoy that. 💡
April 7, 2025 at 5:57 PM
A theme that I brought home from ACRL was to focus on relationships and community right now; to celebrate the smaller moments. I just had a research consult w/ a student and her face lit up as we found articles relevant to her topic. Her smile had wattage! We stopped for a moment to enjoy that. 💡