Yogyakarta, June 19, 2026 — The Library Science Program hosted a guest lecture on the topic “Generative AI and the Evolution of Information Reference Sources: The Transformation of Knowledge Search in the Digital Age.” For the event, the Library Science Program featured two speakers: Dr. Sri Rohyanti Zulaikha, S.Ag., SS., M.Si, who teaches the Reference Sources course, and Mohammad Rosyihan Hendrawan, SIP., M.Hum., Ph.D., an alumnus of the program. The guest lecture was held at the Theater of the Faculty of Literature and Cultural Studies and was attended by faculty members and students of the Library Science program.

The guest lecture event began with opening remarks by the moderator, Dr. Puji Lestari, M.Kom, followed by a welcome address by the Head of the Library Science Program, M. Ainul Yaqin, S.Pd., M.Ed. In his remarks, he discussed developments in information technology. He explained that there have been changes in the process of searching for information: people used to use Yahoo as a search engine, then Google emerged, and now artificial intelligence (AI) technology has evolved to help us find reference sources. Following the opening remarks, the event continued with presentations by the guest speakers.

The first presentation was delivered by Mohammad Rosyihan Hendrawan, SIP., M.Hum., Ph.D. According to him, the topics of generative AI and information sources are crucial to discuss because the world of information retrieval has evolved over time. While in previous generations libraries served as the primary means of obtaining information, technological advancements have since introduced web-based search engines, digital content via social media, and the era of generative AI with its conversational search concept, which allows users to obtain answers instantly.

Continuing his presentation, he explained that generative AI is an artificial intelligence technology capable of generating text, images, audio, video, and code based on its training data. This capability enables AI to perform various tasks, such as answering questions, creating content, translating documents, and summarizing texts. According to him, the current popularity of various AI applications is closely tied to users’ need for quick and immediate answers without having to go through a lengthy information-searching process. Amid these developments, Library Science students are expected to possess strong AI literacy and information literacy skills, think critically, manage data, and understand the concept of digital libraries.

Next, the presentation was delivered by the second speaker, Dr. Sri Rohyanti Zulaikha, S.Ag., SS., M.Si. In her presentation, she outlined three main points: the evolution and transformation of information sources, the new challenges posed by generative AI, and how aspiring librarians should respond. According to her explanation, the evolution of information sources is divided into three eras. In the 1.0 era, information sources were still physical media, such as textbooks and encyclopedias. This was followed by the 2.0 era, during which search engine technologies—such as Google and Wikipedia—began to develop, making it easier for us to find information sources. We have now entered the 3.0 era of generative AI.

He also explained the transformation of the knowledge-seeking process. Whereas we used to rely on keywords to search for reference sources, we no longer need to worry about that because AI (Artificial Intelligence) has made it easier for us to find the reference sources we need through prompts or AI dialogue partners. In addition, he discussed the challenges arising from interactions with AI, namely AI hallucinations and information bias.

AI hallucinations occur when AI operates based on word probabilities rather than absolute objective truth. AI can fabricate false scientific references or citations using a highly convincing writing style. Meanwhile, information bias refers to data distortions from the internet that occur during the process of collecting or interpreting information. Furthermore, he emphasized the essential qualities prospective librarians must possess: information literacy and the ability to use AI as an intelligent assistant. Not only that, but she also highlighted the core competencies of American Library Association (ALA) graduates, namely: information resources, reference and user services, and technological knowledge and skills. It is hoped that through this guest lecture, Library Science students can broaden their horizons while deepening their competencies in line with the times.

By:

Alfiyya Tsurayya Maulidina (atm), M. Azky Fuadi Z A (afz)