OCLC, the global library cooperative, has announced the beta testing of artificial intelligence (AI)-generated book recommendations in WorldCat.org. This new feature allows users to explore book recommendations generated by AI technology and then locate those items in libraries nearby. The AI-generated book recommendations beta is now available on both WorldCat.org and its mobile app extension, WorldCat Find.
During the beta testing phase, AI-generated book recommendations will be accessible to WorldCat.org users in the United States and Canada who are viewing the English interface and are logged into their WorldCat.org accounts. Users can choose to receive recommendations for both print and e-books. The book recommendation beta will also be available to all users of the WorldCat Find mobile app, which is currently available to users in the United States with an English interface.
This book recommendation feature marks OCLC's latest integration of AI technology to enhance its services. OCLC already utilizes machine learning, a subset of AI, to assist with duplicate detection in WorldCat, and plans to expand the use of machine learning and AI to further improve WorldCat's quality.
The new AI-generated book recommendations feature leverages artificial intelligence to help WorldCat.org users discover relevant books in library collections represented in WorldCat. Users can find related books based on the author and title of a known book. Additionally, users of the WorldCat Find app can explore book recommendations based on the subject. It's important to note that no personal information, including search history, is utilized to determine these recommendations.
WorldCat is the world's most comprehensive network of data about library collections and services. For over 50 years, OCLC and its partners have collaborated to contribute, enhance, and share bibliographic data, connecting cultural and scholarly resources in libraries worldwide. WorldCat.org is a freely accessible website that allows anyone to search the collections of thousands of libraries.
OCLC encourages users to provide feedback about the new book recommendations feature through the WorldCat.org site and the WorldCat Find app.
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